SEVEN HELD OVER MURDER (BACK PAGE)

Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Kojokrom
Seven persons have been held over dishing out instant justice to an innocent man who has missed his way home at Kojokrom, in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly of the Western Region.
The victim, Awinzelea Frafra who could not speak any language apart from his mother tongue was tie to a tree after severe beating and later nailed on his forehead with six-inch nails killing him instantly.
The five of the suspects namely, Francis Adai 53 and son Joseph Adai 19 together with Kenneth Quanoo 38, Isaac Abasa 28, and John Mensah are being held for the murder.
A woman, Juliana Coomson and son Victor Achia-Yaw, who witnessed the crime but refused to talk to the police have also been picked and charged with concealing crime and place in police custody.
According to the police, the victim had a sickness and the father, who is night security officer at Ministry of Agriculture at Sekondi, brought him to the metropolis so he could take care of him.
The police said on the night of the incident, the victim went to see the father off, and half way through the journey the father asked him to return and that if he went further he might miss his way back to the house.
The police said true the father’s words, the victim missed his way and found himself on the compound of Addai who asked what he wants at that time of the night.
“The victims who could not speak any language stood there speechless then Addai and the son and three others who names were given as Adoko, Atta-Maison and Boaben, taxi driver pounced on him shouting thief, thief,” the police said.
“This brought a lot of people to the scene while the suspects continue to beat Frafra until the victim became weak and helpless,” it said.
The victim was then led to the road side according to the police where he was tie to electricity pole and nailed him where he was said to have screamed very loudly and died.
The police said the three other suspects, Adoko, Atta-Maison and Boaben, taxi driver are currently at large and the other seven suspects are in police custody while investigations continue.
When contacted, the Takoradi Central Police Commander, DSP Dela K. Dzansi urged the public not to take the law into their own hands.
He deplored instant justice and urged the public that when a suspect was apprehended, he should be matched to the nearest police station to ensure that the law took its course.