Mason sentenced to hang

A Kumasi High Court presided over by Justice P. K. Richardson has sentenced William Koffie, a mason in his 30s, to death by hanging for murdering his colleague, Stephen Dzamesi, over GH¢20.00.

He was convicted recently after a seven-member jury unanimously found him guilty of murder, contrary to section 46 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960, (29).

According to the facts of the case, as presented to the court by Charles Addo, a state attorney, the convict and the deceased were masons residing at Asante Akyem Bomfa in the Ashanti Region.

The two were said to be working on the foundation of a building and had equally shared an amount of GH¢300 they had received from the project owner as payment.

Later, William managed to persuade the owner of the building to add GHc20, which he pocketed without informing Stephen.

On February 14, 2012, after hearing that William had received the said amount, Stephen became incensed and went to a site where he (William) was mixing mortar to demand his share of the money.

A quarrel ensued between them after William failed to give Stephen part of the GHc20.00.

Wound up by Stephen’s unremitting pressure, William hit him (Stephen) three times on the shoulder and the left abdomen with a shovel.

Stephen sustained multiple wounds and was rushed to Bomfa Health Centre, where he was treated and discharged on the same day.

However, shortly after being discharged from the hospital, Stephen’s condition deteriorated. He was then rushed to the First Klass Hospital at Konongo, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem conducted by a pathologist showed that the deceased died as a result of massive bleeding following a ruptured spleen caused by a blunt tool.

Meanwhile, counsel for the accused Oduro Konadu has indicated his intention to appeal against the sentence.