Regional News of Friday, 24 October 2003

Source: GNA

Bawku Police question seven murder suspects

Bawku (U/E), Oct. 24, GNA - Seven persons are helping the Bawku police in their investigations into a case of suspected murder involving a watchman of the Tempane Senior Secondary School, near Garu in the Bawku East District.

Last Sunday morning, the body of 43-year-old Mbabugre Azanga, was found hanging from a nylon rope on a tree in front of the family house in what appeared to be a suicide.

A family spokesman told the Ghana News Agency at Tempane, however, that a closer look at the body revealed a deep cut in the throat, which could only be left by a sharp object.

This revelation erased earlier speculations of suicide and the family members, who suspected it was a case of murder, reported the incident to the Garu police, the source added.

The family's suspicion was further fuelled when the deceased children, while grazing their father's cattle in a nearby field later that morning, discovered a blood-soaked shirt and a cap belonging to their late father. There were bloodstains as well as visible signs of a struggle at the spot.

A joint team of military and police personnel from Bawku was later dispatched to Tempane, and in the course of their investigations, the seven suspects, including two watchmen from the Tempane Secondary school, were arrested and placed in custody at the Bawku police station.