General News of Monday, 6 July 2020

Source: GNA

Docket on Ofankor landlord murder case forwarded to AG for advice

Residents are seeking for justice for the late Benjamin Okyere Residents are seeking for justice for the late Benjamin Okyere

A duplicate docket and the autopsy report on Benjamin Okyere, the musician and a tenant allegedly murdered by his landlord over rent at Ofankor, has now been forwarded to the Attorney General’s office for advice.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Stephen Ahialey, told the Abeka District Court when the matter was called in the absence of the accused person, Stephen Nana Kamkam, a businessman, who has been lawfully remanded into Prison custody.

Meanwhile the Magistrate, Mrs. Adwoa Akyaama Ofosu lauded family members and sympathisers for adhering to the court orders.

The court’s sitting, which is usually characterized with noise and curses from some sympathisers, demanding instant justice was absent today.

The Magistrate commended the family and the sympathisers for their patience and comportment, and urged them to exhibit same whiles the court awaited the advice of the AG.

The court advice came after some sympathisers had rained curses and stormed the court with drinks and eggs to invoke curses on the accused.

The Court also took time to explain to three family members of the deceased, the legal processes before judgment would be delivered.

It said it would not hesitate to order the arrest of sympathizers who throng the Court to make noise and cause mayhem.



The matter has been adjourned to July 20.

Kamkam, a businessman, was picked up by the police when he allegedly shot and killed Okyere, his tenant, over rent on May 25, this year.

Kamkam, also known as Nii Kojo Konim Obio-Cyhoera, has provisionally been charged with the murder of Benjamin Okyere, a musician. His plea has been preserved by the Court.

The Prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Ahialey, earlier said the deceased was a musician who lived at Ofankor Spot-M and Kamkam, his landlord, who was into real estate, also resided in the same area.

Prosecution said two years ago, the deceased rented an apartment from the accused, but the tenancy expired on May 24, this year.

He said Okyere opted for renewal of the tenancy agreement, which Kamkam accepted, but later changed his mind and therefore asked Okyere to vacate the apartment, asking him to leave and hand over the keys.

Prosecution said on the afternoon of May 25, Kamkam took his loaded pump action gun, hired a taxi and went to the residence of Okyere.

On reaching the venue, he alighted and the taxi driver left. Kamkam then called Okyere at the gate and requested that he handed over the keys to the apartment to him.



Prosecution said the deceased, who knew the behaviour of Kamkam, had earlier called one John Bosco Kotah, a police officer friend, on phone to come to his aid.

He said when Kotah arrived, he saw Kamkam in possession of the weapon so he got scared and rushed to Okyere’s room and picked a phone to call another police friend to assist them.

Chief Inspector Ahialey said by then, the deceased was at the main gate with the accused and without any provocation Kamkam opened fire and shot Okyere four times at close range.

He said when Kotah heard the gun shots, he came out of the room only to see the accused running away and he chased Kamkam to a distance but being scared the accused might harm him, he returned to attend to Okyere.

Prosecution said Okyere was rushed to Anecja Hospital at Tantra Hills and later sent to the Achimota Mile Seven Police Station where a formal complaint was lodged.

He said Okyere was subsequently rushed to the Police Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Chief Inspector Ahialey said a team of policemen, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, George Asare, proceeded to the crime scene and saw human blood splattered at the entrance of the main gate to the deceased’s apartment.

Four spent AA cartridges were retrieved at the scene and the accused was later arrested at his residence at Ofankor Spot-M.

Two pump action guns, loaded with seven and eight rounds of cartridges, respectively, were found in his room.