Murder Happened Last Night (Dedicated To Lawyer Adesegun Talabi) Poem by GK Talabi

Murder happened late last night
When no one was in sight
A young woman suffered a brutal attack
Stabbed several times in the chest and back
Her naked body was then dumped by the road side
The woman's hands and legs were hogtied

The next day her body was found
And all the policemen gathered round
They just could not believe what they saw
A thing like this had never happened before
They swore to catch whoever committed this murder
Put him in jail and make him go no further

Days later a message was sent out by relay
That the police were investigating without delay
The TV and radio stations told the story and more,
The newspapers showed the victim covered in gore
People were warned not to stay out late
Else this savage killer could determine their fate

Within a matter of weeks the police arrested a man
Informed the public that interrogations had began
They asked the suspect where he was that night
But the man said he had an alibi that was air tight
He said he was at a friend's leaving do
Where he drank and partied all the night through

Eye witnesses corroborated everything this man said
Urging the police to find another suspect instead
They said they knew where this man was all the time
There is no way he could have committed such a crime
"Let him go, let him go", they begged the police
"Your suspect is not the villain of the piece"

A posse of policemen visited the venue of the leaving do
Desperate for evidence even a tiny bit of clue
So in full force into the friend's house the detectives landed
Armed to the teeth they were ready to go heavy handed
Without bothering to knock they tore down the door
Into the bedroom and living room they made a beeline for.

But the home owner was nowhere to be seen
Evidence showed that he had fled the scene
By this time all the neighbours poured outside
Their curiosity and excitement they could not hide
They fell over themselves to give an interview
Saying there was no leaving do, party or what have you

They described Mr James as a Jack of all trades
A man who got along with everyone in spades
They swore he wouldn't lift a finger to hurt a fly
And has never ever been caught in a lie
However no one remembered when they saw him last
His complete disappearance left everyone aghast

The police then returned to the station
And put the only suspect they had in detention
Through torture they got an admission of guilt
The poor soul was tortured to the hilt
At one point he fell to his knees and began to beg
But the police continued to beat him like an egg

In court he was tried and sentenced to many years jail
Both judge and jury called this crime "beyond the pale"
The judge granted the convict no room to appeal
And thanked the police for putting shoulders to the wheel
Only months ago the police were labelled a bunch of zeros
But now they were lauded and celebrated as local heroes.

On television in my room I sat and watched the case
A huge smile was plastered all over my handsome face
Then I burst out laughing, honest to God I did laugh
Was I really watching such a judicial gaffe?
It is very true our police force can't do anything right
Because I, committed the murder that happened that night.