A 54-year-old Nkeruewen Etuk who was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly beating his lover to death for allowing his meal get burnt, has been paraded at the Cross River state police command.

During his parade on Friday, Etuk told newsmen that though he beat his 34-year-old lover named Esther Ndereke at their residence at 34 Abasi Obori street, Calabar South Local Government Area because he was angry she burnt his meal, he did not intend to beat her to death.

He said his anger was not only fueled by the fact she did not cook the meal properly by carelessly allowing the rice get burnt, he was also angry that such carelessness can also lead to their apartment being razed down by the fire.

In Etuk words: “I became increasingly outraged by her  failure to cook rice properly, which became a major point of contention between us.

“She almost burnt down the house while cooking, and didn’t add enough water before turning on the gas and she almost burnt down the house.

“When I asked her why she behaved that way, that was when we started arguing then I beat her up. I never intended to kill her, I have never had any serious  issue with her for the past two years that we have been dating.

“Unfortunately, our altercation escalated, resulting in her tragic demise after she slumped during the fight. It was never my plan to kill her. I was only angry because she was careless and almost burnt down someone’s house.”

CP Gyogon Grimah, the state Commissioner of Police who was present as Etuk’s and others arrested for various offences were paraded, urged residents in the state to always report crimes.