Bonking Catholic Priest faces the law

Romeo Roman Catholic Priest, Rev. Father Charles Asamoah, who inflicted multiple knife wounds on 42-year-old Janet Dwamena Agyapomaa aka Yaa Kwahu, after their amorous affairs turned sour, has finally been arraigned to account for his 'unholy' actions.

Fr. Charles Asamoah was put in the dock Wednesday at an Obuasi Circuit Court to answer two counts of causing unlawful harm and threat of death, contrary to section 69 and 75 of the Criminal Offences Act 29 of 1960.

He pleaded guilty to the charge of causing unlawful harm to his lover, but denied the charge of threat of death, a second degree felony.

The court, presided over by Gilbert Ayisi Addo granted a GH¢10,000 bail to the 32-year-old priest with one surety to be justified after the priest entered a plea of not guilty.

Fr. Asamoah told the court he intentionally caused the harm to his lover, but acted in self-defence when a quarrel ensued between them.

At the time of filing this report, the accused, who is to re-appear in court on July 7, 2010, was being whisked away to the Obuasi Central Prison for failing to meet the bail condition as the court closed sitting for the day.

With moral support from the Obuasi Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr. Nyarko, some church members and others, Fr. Charles Asamoah verbally assaulted journalists for attempting to take his photograph amidst threats to smash their cameras.

On April 20 this year, Yaa Kwahu, the victim, who lives at Obuasi Pomposo, was rushed to AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Hospital in Obuasi from St. Louis Health Centre at Bodwesango in the Adansi North District, after the accused allegedly attacked her with a knife and blunt objects including a mallet and a club.

According to Dr. James Asenso-Barnie's report, the victim, who was bleeding profusely from a scalp wound, sustained 10 lacerations on the scalp, punctured wound on the forehead and bruises all over the body, when she was brought to the hospital.

The prosecutor, Seth Sewornu, told the court that the victim is an operator of a drinking bar, while the accused is a Catholic Priest at Bodwesango.

According to him, the two were in a sexual relationship for about two months and on April 20, 2010, the victim asked a witness in the case to accompany her to the lover priest's place.

He stated that the victim and the witness passed the night in the accused person's house, during which the two lovebirds slept in one room, while the witness was given another.

Prosecution indicated that the witness left the house the following day, "leaving the two lovers to enjoy their uninterrupted sanctimonious honeymoon."

ASP Sewornu added that the honeymoon later turned sour and both parties agreed to end the relationship with a GH¢500 compensation to the victim, which the accused duly paid.

According to him, no sooner was the compensation paid than a misunderstanding ensued between them, leading to physical blows.

Fr. Asamoah then allegedly used a mallet and a knife to inflict multiple and serious injuries on the victim, especially the head.

The victim, who was in a pool of blood, gathered some strength to run for cover by scaling a wall, but the accused chased and captured her, after which he hit her with a stick from all angles.

The victim, prosecution said, was rescued by a Good Samaritan who intervened and rushed her to the St. Louis Health Centre at Bodwesango. She was later referred to AGA Hospital where she spent over one month on admission.

ASP Sewornu intimated that the accused during the assault grabbed back the GH¢500 compensation, as well as the victim's personal mobile phone.

He was subsequently arrested and he admitted to the offences in his caution statement to the police.

The priest was later charged and arraigned after police investigations.