Labourer to be hanged for murder

A Sekondi High Court has sentenced a 19-year old farm labourer to death by hanging for murdering Kweku Agyei,a native of Yawmatwa Nkwanta.

The labourer, Boakye, in October 13, 2009, pulled out a knife from his pocket and stabbed Agyei on the chest and both ribs at a funeral at Kwadjei Number Two.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder.

Mr. Justice George Boadi, the High Court Judge, pronounced the sentence after a seven-member jury unanimously returned a verdict of guilty.

Boakye, who had earlier pleaded not guilty to the offence of murder, reiterated his stance when he was asked by the judge if he had anything to tell the court.

Thereafter, Justice Boadi gave his ruling stating that the accused should die by hanging.

According to the prosecution led by State Attorneys George Sackey and Mary Nsenkyire, Agyei was in a relationship with Ophelia Afia.

They had one child and were living together. The prosecutors told the court that on October 13, 2009, there was a funeral at Kwadjei Number Two that the deceased and other persons including the accused person attended.

At the funeral ground, Agyei saw Ophelia standing with Boateng and he confronted his wife and ordered the accused to leave her alone.

But Boakye told Ophelia to ignore the deceased and this, the prosecution said, infuriated Agyei who hit Boakye with a small stick, and suddenly the accused took out a knife and stabbed the deceased in the chest and on the ribs.

The deceased was rushed to the Essiam Hospital but died on arrival while the accused was arrested and after investigations, charged with murder.

The prosecutors said the post mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was massive haemothorax as a result of stab injury to the chest.