Trial of man charged for killing 2 minors at Abesim & storing body parts in fridge begins March 14

The commencement of the trial of Richard Appiah, the draughtsman accused of killing two minors and keeping their bodies in a refrigerator at Abesim near Sunyani has been fixed for March 14, 2024.

Appiah also said to be a footballer had earlier pleaded not guilty before the High Court.l in Accra.

He had denied killing two minors namely Louis Agyemang, 12, and Stephen Sarpong, 15, and has been charged with two counts of murder.

On Wednesday, February 14, 2024, the Court presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey fixed the commencement date after the conclusion of Case Management Conference (CMC).

Nana Ama Adinkra, a Senior State Attorney, during the CMC said, the prosecution will be relying on documents listed in the summary of evidence attached to the bill of indictment filed on May 31, 2023.

These documents she said include investigations caution statements of the accused person dated August 21, 2021, further investigation cautioned statements of the accused dated August 23, 2021 and September 10, 2021

She also told the Court that, they will be relying on the Autopsy reports of Stephen Sarpong and Louis Agyemang Jnr. dated December 16, 2022 and May 25, 2023 respectively.

She also said, the Prosecution will also rely on Photographs of the deceased parts of Stephen Sarpong, partially burnt clothes, slippers and Photographs of the clothes of the deceased Stephen Sarpong.

Also, Photographs of a double door fridge of the accused containing body parts of type deceased Stephen sarpong and a charge statement of accused dated November 10, 2022, would also be relied on.

“Our disclosures contained 13 written statements, given at the police station and we have further attached five witness statements of Asuamah Yeboah, Kwasi Boateng, ACP Dr Owusu Afriyie, ASP Alhaji Shaibu Yakubu Damuin and Chief Inspector Alexander Otchere,” she told the Court.

She subsequently sought leave of the Court to file additional witness statement of Thomas Agyei, the father of Louiz Agyemang Jnr, (deceased) “who is indisposed and was not in Accra and we hope he can recover in time to take his Witness statement.”

Lawyer for the accused Faustinus Yirilabuo, told the Court that he had received the disclosures as indicated by the Prosecution

Justice Ruby Aryeetey, the presided judge has since fixed March 14, 2024 for commencement of the trial as Prosecution was directed to call their first witness.

The accused is facing a jury trial.