Regional News of Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Source: GNA

Reverend Thomas died from multiple stab injuries a

Accra, Nov. 17, GNA - Reverend Sidney Thomas, a British-American Missionary who was murdered at Nsawam, died from multiple stab injuries and haemorrhage lacerations.

This was contained in an autopsy report submitted by the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

However, the report is yet to be submitted to the court.

The vehicle allegedly used to convey the deceased to the area where the crime was committed had also been retrieved by the Police.

A source close to the Police told journalists after the alleged killers Kofi Seidu, driver, Goodwill Padmore, Pastor and Issaka Mohammed, mason appeared before the District Magistrate's Court in Accra on Wednesday. The three whose pleas have been reserved, are facing charges of conspiracy to murder and murder.

Meanwhile the case has been adjourned to December 1. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clement Abadamlora, prosecuting told the court earlier that the deceased, 75, arrived in the country in 1995. He said Seidu was also a farm manager of the deceased, while Padmore=

was the Principal of Prestige Secretarial and Business Academy in Koforid= ua, and Mohammed a resident of Adoagyiri in Nsawam. ASP Abadamlora said the deceased established a Christian Ministry, known as Cross Road Christian Missionary Incorporated, in Koforidua. The prosecutor said in addition to the missionary work, the deceased=

had a farm at Akwamu, near Nsawam, which was being managed by Seidu while=

his private secretarial institution was being handled by Padmore. On December 27, 2009, ASP Abadamlora said, the deceased went to the USA and was to return to Ghana on March 18, this year. On March 17, Padmore gave Seidu some money to repair the vehicle of the deceased so that they could use it to convey him from the Airport to Koforidua the following day. ASP Abadamlora said on March 18, Seidu after collecting GH¢50 for fuel left early in the morning saying he wanted "do some rounds" before pickin= g up the deceased in the evening.

At about 2330 hours, ASP Abadamlora said, Seidu called Padmore on ph= one saying that the deceased had not arrived so he had driven the vehicle to Nsawam Adoagyiri. The prosecutor said on March 19, a witness in the case detected that=

Seidu had sustained some injuries on both hands and when he was quizzed, he told the witness that he and a white friend were involved in an accident in Koforidua. He indicated that the said white friend was receiving treatment at t= he Saint Joseph's Hospital in Koforidua. The prosecutor said Seidu also went to a chemical shop for a tetanus=

injection and was asked to purchase the drugs but he did not return. ASP Abadamlora said Seidu also presented a laptop to a witness in th= e case and when it was switched on, the name of the deceased appeared on th= e screen. The prosecutor said the bag of the deceased was found in the vehicle=

being driven by the accused.

ASP Abadamlora said following a report lodged with INTERPOL on the disappearance of the deceased, Seidu was arrested and handed over to the Homicide Unit for further investigations. "During investigations, Seidu confessed to the crime and mentioned Padmore and Mohammed as his accomplices. On October 11, Seidu led a team of investigators from the Homicide u= nit and pathologists from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to Akwamu Amanfo, ne= ar Nsawam Adoagyiri, where he identified the grave where the deceased was buried. ASP Abadamlora said the body of the deceased was exhumed and conveye= d to the Korle Bu teaching Hospital Mortuary and on October 13, autopsy was=

carried out on the body. 17 Nov. 10