Crime & Punishment of Monday, 6 August 2007

Source: GNA

Father and son remanded for manslaughter

Cape Coast, Aug. 06, GNA - A Cape Coast Circuit court on Monday remanded Kwame Adade 85, Kwabena Eshun 33 and Kofi Essel 37, all quarrymen into prison custody for allegedly causing the death of Madam Maame Esi Akowah 38.

Adade also known as Ocran Dadzie, Eshun and Essel also known as Paul Boafo, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and would re-appear on August 10.

Prosecuting, Mr Anthony Rexford Wiredu, Principal State Attorney told the court presided over by Mr Beresford Acquah, that the accused persons reside at Assinadze, near Birimsu in the Central Region. He said on July 23 this year, Adade who is the father of the deceased and Essel accompanied by Eshun went for an illegal quarrying.

The prosecution said Eshun used fertilizer, carbide, car battery and gasoline to make three explosives for their operations to blast rocks.

He said after two of the explosives had been used, the deceased went to collect some of the stones and in the process, the third explosive detonated hitting her on the head killing her instantly. Mr Wiredu said the accused persons failed to report the incident to the police and attempted to bury the deceased, but upon a tip-off the police arrested them when preparing to bury the deceased four days later.

He said the corpse had been deposited at Central Regional Hospital at Cape Coast for autopsy.