A seven-member jury has found two teenagers guilty of the 2021 murder of a 10-year-old boy in Kasoa, linked to an attempted money ritual. The teenagers, now aged 18 and 15, were convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder.
Following the verdict, High Court Justice Lydia Osei Marfo sentenced the 18-year-old, Nicholas Kini, to life imprisonment.
The sentencing of the 15-year-old, however, was deferred to a juvenile court, in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act of 2003, which requires that minors be sentenced in juvenile court even if tried alongside adults.
Until his sentencing, the 15-year-old will remain in police custody.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by Nana Adoma Osei, pressed for a guilty verdict, while defense attorneys Samuel Atuah and Lawrence Boampong, representing the brief of Martin Kpebu, argued for acquittal.
After sentencing, Kini maintained his innocence and expressed remorse, stating that only the deceased could reveal the true events.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Marfo criticized parental neglect, emphasizing its role in shaping the tragic events, warning that such neglect threatens societal foundations.
Ishmael, the victim and a pupil of Maranatha Preparatory School, was lured by the two teens to an unfinished building where he was killed in April 2021.
The trial began in March 2023, with the 15-year-old initially confessing at the District Court and then again at the High Court to conspiracy but pleading not guilty to murder.
The 18-year-old denied all charges and attempted to establish an alibi, but his claim went unsubstantiated following testimony from his now-deceased grandfather.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution called seven witnesses to support the charges, highlighting inconsistencies in the older defendant’s testimony.
Chief Inspector Asiedu Opare, the sixth witness, testified on the investigation’s findings, further questioning the credibility of the 18-year-old’s statements.
The case sparked public discussions on the influence of parenting and community in preventing youth involvement in violent crime, with officials urging for increased accountability among guardians and caregivers.
Source:opemsuo.com