Krofrom killing: Culpable cops should be punished – Baako

A call has been made for police officers who allegedly assaulted a young man at Krofrom leading to his death recently to be made to face the music for their role that night.

Richard Osei, also known as Kwadwo Tawiah, died on the night of Thursday May 26, at the Manhyia Hospital where he had been conveyed by police officers who had reportedly assaulted and subsequently tasered him during night patrol duties, on suspicion of being a member of a gang terrorising Krofrom residents.

The coroner’s report on Monday May 30 had it that the victim died of heart failure, news of which was met with a violent demonstration by youth of the town the following day, saying it was part of an agenda to cover up for the police officers and shield them from punishment.

But adding his voice to the debate, Mr Kweku Baako, Managing Editor of the Crusading Guide, was adamant that police on duty that night had brutalised the victim with their application of “massive force”, as the incident had played out in the full glare of some Krofuom inhabitants.

He said though he would not dispute post-mortem conclusions that Osei died of natural causes, there should have been some sign of injury on the body as a result of the beatings he was subjected to.

“I would be surprised if the report does not indicate any sign of bodily harm or anything. It’s possible that the gentleman died through heart attack…that’s natural. But it is also possible that circumstances triggered something. And for the people out there in the streets, driven by emotion, anger, sentiment, they don’t see the medical analysis in the report; it means nothing to them,” the veteran journalist said on Joy FM’s Newsfile programme on Saturday June 4, 2016. “And it’s unfortunate that it is so because of the brutalisation that preceded the fatal incident.

“I want to believe that there was some form of brutalisation. People saw it, many people saw it.”

Mr Baako added: “To the extent that the death was natural, the death was punishable. The police personnel who took part in the brutalisation must be held accountable for that act because it’s not allowed by law.”

In his view, such action could go a long a way to “mitigate the anger of the people” who “suspect foul play” with the autopsy report.