Crime & Punishment of Saturday, 1 February 2014

Source: GNA

Chop bar operator charged with murder

Efua Badu, the 33-year-old chop bar operator who burnt a family to death at Tantra Hills in Accra on Friday appeared before the Adjabeng District Court charged with murder.

She is being held for the death of Peter Asobayire, 35, Felicity Asobayire, 25, and Sarah Asobayire, two and half years old. They were burnt beyond recognition when Badu allegedly set their house on fire.

Badu whose plea was reserved, has been remanded into prison custody by the court presided over by Mr Isaac Addo.

The court declined bail based on the nature of the offence as facts presented on the charge sheet indicates that it was a non-bailable offence.

A duplicate docket is expected to be forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office for advice.

Badu is expected to reappear on February 17.

Prosecuting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) A. Atibillah said the Police had completed their investigations and wants her to be remanded into prison custody pending advice from the office of the Attorney General.

ACP Atibillah said Badu was the wife of Peter Asobayire now deceased whom she had two children with.

The prosecution said Peter stays at Tantra Hill whilst the accused lives at Spintex, and that, there was always a misunderstanding between the deceased and Badu.

The deceased went in for a second wife, Felicity Asobayire and informed Badu about it.

Badu on January 27, this year, at about 0200 hours went to Tantra Hill, when Peter, his new wife and baby were asleep, and set the place ablaze.

A report was made to the Police and Badu was arrested. In her caution statement, she admitted the offence, prosecution said.