Ex-convict sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter

Richard Kwabena Owusu, a 26-year-old ex-convict was last Friday sentenced to life imprisonment by a Ho High Court, for causing the death of Daniel Kwasi Asare, a farmer at Kayadan village in the Jasikan District of the Volta Region.

Owusu, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and illegally possessing firearms at the Court presided over by Mr Justice Richard Apaloo.

A seven-member jury, by a unanimous decision returned a verdict of guilty against the accused.

Mr Oscar Vulor, counsel for Owusu pleaded with the court to change the charge of murder to manslaughter, because the accused person was remorseful during the trial.

Mr Justice Apaloo, in passing judgement said Owusu committed the crime at the age of 22 and wanted to be lenient with him to reform but his record, as an ex-convict has added a new dimension to his plight.

" If having been jailed for stealing and came out to kill, then, society must be protected against people like you, hence the life sentence".

Mr Justice Apaloo ordered that the weapon used in committing the crime should be confiscated and destroyed within 30 days.

Mrs Patience Klinogo, Principal State Attorney told the Court that on January 11, 1999, Owusu stole a video deck and five cassettes belonging to Mr K. K. Arhin, a former Officer of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) at Jasikan and sold three of the cassettes to one Danso, a driver.

Danso having found that the items were stolen, reported himself to the Police, while Owusu fled to Kayadan to seek refuge.

Mrs Klinogo, said Asare reported Owusu to the Police suspecting him for stealing his 70,000 cedis.

She said Asare, therefore, organised a group of people to search for Owusu at Kayadan and found him in a thicket where a struggle ensued among them and Owusu pulled a locally manufactured gun and shot Asare, killing him instantly.

Mrs Klinogo said Owusu, went into hiding but was arrested on February 13, 1999, by citizens of Okadjakrom and handed him over to the Jasikan Police.