Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Source: Daily Guide

Man in police grips for chopping off girlfriend's hands

A 24-year-old man is the grip of the Bekwai District Police Command in the Ashanti Region for allegedly chopping off the right hand of his 18-year-old girl­friend.

According reports, unemployed Isaac Owusu had wanted to chop off Akua Lydia's head with a machete, but missed.

The incident happened at Krodua-Hemang, a farming community on the Obuasi- Kumasi road.

He was remanded into prison custody by a magistrate court in Bekwai when he appeared before it to answer for his bloody conduct, having accused Lydia of flirting with another man in the community.

Prosecuting, Police Detective Inspector Stephen Ofori told the court presided over by Nana Birim that the incident took place on April 4, 2015 at Krodua-Hemang in the room of the duo who were cohabitating.

According to the prosecution, the accused had known the victim for years and they were in a relationship, which the young woman wanted them to part ways as the man could no longer cater for her.

He narrated that Isaac Owusu left the room they were occupy­ing for some weeks, leaving behind Akua Lydia who owned the said room.

Inspector Ofori said the accused flew into a rage when he learnt that the young woman was with another man in that room when he returned.

The police prosecutor indicated that Owusu rushed to the room with a machete to attack his girlfriend and was going to slash open the victim's head but she managed to parry away the attack with her right hand which got chopped off .

The accused went for the decapitated hand and sliced the fingers on it before attempting to bolt away, but he was apprehended and handed over to the police.

He is expected back in court on May 8, 2015 to answer charges preferred against him.