Bawku (U/E), August 9, GNA - A Bawku circuit court has referred Iddrisu Shaibu, a 36-year-old man who threatened to kill his 75-year-old father for being the cause of his difficulties, to a psychiatrist. But for the bravery of Shaibu's wife, Memmuna, Shaibu would have carried out his intentions as she foiled his two attempts. Shaibu, who first appeared before the court on July 23, pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty on his second appearance on Tuesday.

Before he would pass sentence the judge, Mr. Alex Owusu Ofori, asked the accused why he intended to kill his father. The accused said some spirits were haunting him and he consulted an oracle that told him the father was the spirit pursuing him. Based on this, the judge suspended sentencing and referred him to a psychiatric hospital before he would sentence him on August 28. Detective Inspector Augustus A. Yirenkyi told the court that Shaibu lived in the same house with his wife and father, Musah Shaiba, at Azanga, a suburb of Bawku.

On July 19, the father entered his room to pick some money when Memmuna informed the father-in-law that Shaibu had threatened to kill him and advised him to hide.

Hardly had she finished with her advice when Shaibu entered the room with a club and attempted to hit the father. Memmuna held the club and both fell and while struggling over it, the father took away the club from the son and asked what he had done to him to warrant such a treatment from him. Shaibu told the father that he was hampering his progress in life and had realized that if the father were not eliminated, he would not make it in life.

Mr Yirenkyi said in the evening, Shaibu poured petrol on the father whilst he was relaxing outside but in his attempt to strike a match, Memmuna appeared and pushed the husband down and screamed for help.

One Salaam Zaama, living in a nearby house, appeared on the scene and helped Memmuna to prevented Shaibu from striking the match. Shaibu then assaulted Zaama. A report was made to the police and Shaibu was arrested.