Sekondi, Feb 26 GNA- A Sekondi high court on Wednesday remanded Martin Kofi Asumani, a small scale miner (galamsey) in prison custody for allegedly stealing and causing the murder of Madam Mary Agyeman at Tarkwa "18" in May 2001.

He pleaded not guilty and would re-appear on March 10.

Prosecuting, Mr. William Pobee, a principal state attorney told the court that on May 14, 2001, Martin went to the store of the deceased and clubbed the woman to death, covered her body with bags in the shop and ransacked the place.

He said Madam Agyeman who had earlier been watching television nearby, decided to close her store for the day, but just then, the suspect entered the store.

Mr. Pobee said other passers-by and witnesses who saw the suspect enter the store, thought he was a customer, so they paid little attention to him while he carted quantities of suitcases away from the store.

He said the suspect while carting away the bags said continually, "Madam I will be back" and came for more of the suitcases.

The prosecutor said about 2200 hours on that day, when the victim had still not closed her store; the landlady gave padlocks to one of her assistants to lock it since it was late.

He said 30 minutes later, the husband of Agyeman arrived at the scene and when she could not be traced, a report was made to the Police. Mr. Pobee said the shop was thoroughly searched until they discovered the body in a pool of blood.

The prosecutor said the suspect fled to Tekunaso near Tarkwa after the incident.

Mr. Pobee said on August 21, that same year, an informant alerted the Police about the hideout of the suspect, who had also shot a taxi driver with a locally manufactured gun in the arm, ostensibly to snatch the vehicle from him at Adiembra near Assin Foso in the Central Region.

He said the accused was later arrested at his hideout.