Palm Wine tapper remanded for alleged murder

A Half-Assini magistrates’ court in the Western Region on Friday remanded a 40-year-old Palm Wine tapper into Police Custody for killing his fiancée, Madam Kaku Ermah, a trader at Samenye near Mpataba.

The accused from Tandane near Nkroful, in Ellembelle District, is on a Provisional charge of Murder.

His plea was however not taken and the court presided over by Mr. Abdul Majid Illiasu, ordered him to re-appear on Friday June 12, 2015.

Prosecuting, Police Sergeant Isaac Ebo Otoo, said the complainant, Osofo Mochiah of Samenye is an Uncle to the deceased, who had been in a relationship with the accused for about two years.

He said accused distills Akpeteshie, which the deceased sells and accounts to him but he has of late felt discontent with the sales made by the deceased on the liqour.

According to the Prosecutor, on Saturday May 23, 2015, deceased took 20 mini gallons of the liquor to sell at Jaway-Wharf Saturdays market near Half-Assini but could not render proper accounts to the accused.

He said this resulted in a confrontation between them on Tuesday May 26, 2015, at the cottage with the accused attempting to beat up the deceased but following a report she made the case was resolved by deceased's brother, Mr. Ezonle Kanrah.

The Prosecutor said the accused, not satisfied with the terms of settlement, woke up the deceased about 0100 hours on Thursday May 28,
2015 and demanded the money, which she promised paying on Monday June 1 2015.

He said at that moment the accused demanded sex from the deceased, who refused, claiming accused cannot pretend to love her and yet demand his last penny she owes him.

Sergeant Otoo said accused not happy with the deceased's refusal, used force to have his way and in the process held her neck to prevent her from raising an alarm, which eventually made her unconscious.

He said the deceased was rushed to Nana Benie Memorial Clinic at Menzezor near Aiyinasi in Ellembelle District where she was referred to St. Martin De-Porees Catholic Hospital, Eikwe, in Ellembelle District but died on the way around 0300 hours on Thursday May 28 2015.

The Prosecutor said accused sensing danger over the untimely death of his fiancee, escaped into the bush but was chased and arrested at Mpim, about 10 kilometres away, by a search party and brought to the Mpataba Police Station where he was transferred to the Police District Headquarters, Half-Assini, for investigations.

He said the accused admitted the offence in his Police investigation caution statement and prayed the Court to remand him pending receipt of Corona's Report, whilst the corpse is also sent to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital for a Pathologist report.