Cape Coast, Sept 3, GNA- A Cape Coast High Court presided over by Justice Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha on Thursday sentenced a 64 year old farmer to 15 years imprisonment for manslaughter.

Kweku Otoo 64, a resident of Nkanfoa in the Cape Coast Metropolis of the Central Region, pleaded not guilty to murder but his charge was changed to manslaughter by a seven member jury who sat on the case.

Otoo told the court before sentence was passed that the deceased was his best friend, and that he murdered him under the influence of alcohol when the Presiding Judge inquired about the reasons behind his action.

Justice Mustapha wondered why as a man, Otoo could not control himself and described him as "a fool and a very wicked man".

The Principal State Attorney, Mrs. Hannah Taylor, told the

She said on January 6, 2006 about 16.30hrs, a serious quarrel ensued between Otoo and one female tenant in his house and the deceased intervened, infuriating Otoo in the process.

She said Otoo who was furious, turned on Nyanful, picked a kitchen stool and hit him several times on the head, neck and the wrist.

Mrs. Taylor said people around whisk the deceased to his house while he was still groaning in pain.

The following day, he fell unconscious and was rushed to the Central Regional Hospital where he died shortly on arrival.

Mrs. Taylor said post mortem examinations performed on the body revealed the cause of the death as severe head, neck and chest injuries with contusion of the brain.