Tabloid News of Thursday, 30 October 2003

Source: GNA

Farmer who chopped off fingers of woman on bail

Kumasi, Oct. 30, GNA - A Circuit Court in Kumasi on Wednesday granted 20 million cedis bail with two sureties to be justified to a 41-year-old farmer, believed to have chopped off two fingers of Madam Abena Birago, a 64-year-old woman.

Maxwell Asante, the accused, pleaded not guilty and will re-appear on November 14.

Inspector Francis Kwame Kusi told the court that Asante lived at Apemso, near the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) with Madam Birago.

The prosecutor said about two months ago, the suspect proposed love to one of the daughters of Madam Birago but the victim vehemently opposed the idea.

Insp Kusi said following the refusal, the accused bore Madam Birago a grudge and verbally attacked her on a number of occasions and threatened to show her where power lies.

He added that on Saturday, October 25, the accused without any provocation, chased Madam Birago and her daughters, and chopped off the fingers of the old woman with a cutlass.