Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 30 August 2006

Source: GNA

Police hold man for beating girlfriend to death

Accra, Aug. 30, GNA - The Osu Police on Wednesday arrested a 42-year-old graphic designer, for beating his girlfriend, Yaa Tiwah to death with a metal bar.

Harold Okai Tetteh, a resident of Osu RE in Accra, is said to have picked up a quarrel with Tiwah, a 32-year-old unemployed, for stealing his pair of shoes and 50 dollars.

The suspect, who has suddenly feigned madness, subjected his girlfriend, who hails from Ashanti Bekwai, to severe beatings and threw her out of his room and in the process smashed her head on the floor. Tiwah's body has since been deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Speaking to journalists, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr James Annor, Osu District Police Commander, said the suspect and the deceased had been in a relationship for three years.

According to the District Commander at about 0130 on Wednesday morning some witnesses heard an unusual noise in the suspect's room. The noise prompted a Policeman, who lived nearby, to come to the scene.

ASP Annor said the Policeman saw that the suspect, who returned from remand last April for assaulting a tenant, had thrown Tiwah out of the room and she fell.

The Policeman said Tiwah who was screaming looked weak and helpless and he invited his colleague to assist him to transport the woman to the Police Hospital.

ASP Annor said due to Tiwah's serious condition, she was referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

ASP Annor said Tetteh would be provisionally charged with murder while advice was sought from the Attorney=96General's Department. He said efforts were being made to trace the relatives of the deceased.