The two teens who are on trial for the death of a ten-year-old in Kasoa have been convicted of both murder and murder conspiracy.
The two have been on trial since committing the crime in 2021.
Three years had passed since the graphic occurrence before the High Court concluded the trial and rendered a decision.
Nicholas Kini, the second defendant and the 18-year-old at the time of the incident, was given a life sentence.
However, because the High Court lacks the jurisdiction to sentence the first accused, who was 15 at the time of the occurrence, he has been transferred to the juvenile court for sentencing.
Inside story
Investigators testify that during questioning, the first accused acknowledged that he got the notion to kill the dead after accidentally watching a video of a spiritualist promising to assist people make money by depositing GH¢5,000.
In support of this, he allegedly admitted to calling Nicholas Kini, the second accused, who recommended that they phone the fetish priest.
According to reports, the fetish priest requested human blood and GH¢5000.
The first accused claims that in order to fulfill the request, the second accused suggested that the deceased be killed.
However, the initial aim was to kidnap him and demand GH¢5,000 from his parents in exchange for a ransom.
The first accused is then accused of luring the dead to the incomplete construction by pretending that he had purchased a game for him.
The dead was hit on the head with a stick when he was asked to pick up the game, and when he begged for forgiveness, he was hit with cement blocks.
Following the pathologist’s explanation that incapacity to breathe was the cause of death, the corpse was buried alive.
Prosecution
In March 2023, the prosecution called seven witnesses, including the father of deceased Ishmael Abdallah, the first accused, his mother, and sister, as well as three police officers. The father testified that he found his son’s body in an uncompleted building opposite the first accused’s house.
The sister of the first accused testified that she saw his brother and the second accused, Nicholas Kini, at the uncompleted building. The first accused admitted to killing Ishmael and pleaded guilty to conspiracy and not guilty to murder. The second accused, who was 18 at the time, denied involvement and pleaded not guilty to both offenses.
The state urged the jury to find the two guilty, but their lawyers prayed for their clients not to be found guilty. The seven-member jury returned a guilty verdict for both.
