Bar attendant, 66, before court for murder

A Cape Coast Magistrate’s Court has remanded John Okyere, a 66-year-old bar operator, in prison custody for allegedly murdering one Kofi Dominase in his bar at Sunkwaa in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District.

His plea was not taken and the case was adjourned to Thursday, August 2, 2012.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Osarfo Khanin, told the Court presided over by Mrs Mercy Adei Kortey, that on Sunday July 15, 2012, at about 1630 hours, one Kwesi Badu went to the bar to buy two tots of local gin commonly known as 'apketeshie' but refused to pay for it after drinking.

He said after a while, Badu went back and ordered for another two tots of the gin but the operator refused to sell to him, asking him to settle the previous debt but this generated into a quarrel with exchange of insults.

He said the accused verbally assaulted Badu so badly that he went home to inform his stepson, Dominase, who followed him to the drinking spot, armed with a knife to avenge for his father, so he asked the accused to face them if he was truly a man.

Chief Inspector Osarfo said Dominase pulled out the knife and threatened to kill the accused and the accused also entered his store and grabbed a Guinness bottle.

He said Dominase then attacked the accused with the knife and the accused in return broke the Guinness bottle and stabbed him in the neck, but Dominase bled to death.

He said the police upon a tip-off that someone had been killed at Sunkwaa rushed to the scene only to meet the lifeless body of Dominase lying on the ground.

They took the body to the Abura Dunkwa Hospital, whilst the accused was arrested for prosecution.

He said Police investigation is ongoing and the autopsy yet to be performed, while the docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office for advice.**