Ya-Na's body was incomplete and badly mutilated - Pathologist

Colonel Jaswant Mante Wadhwani, a Pathologist of the 37 Military Hospital, on Wednesday told an Accra High Court that the body of the Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, Paramount Chief of Dagbon, was badly mutilated and was not complete.

Col. Wadhwani, who was the Fifth Prosecution Witness in the case in which two persons are standing trial for the assassination of the Ya-Na, said the striking feature of the body was that it was without head.


He said after closely examining the body, it was found that he died through excessive bleeding at the time that the head was cut off.


Yidana Sugri and Iddrisu Gyanfo, both farmers, who are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and murder, have pleaded not guilty. The court presided over by Mr Justice Yaw Appau has refused them bail.


Col. Wadhwani, who was led in evidence by Mr Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, said the Ya-Na' body was burnt, decapitated and had the limbs severed, leaving stumps.


He said the stumps could be as a result of burning or amputation.

Witness stated that part of the burnt body had cuts.


Col. Wadhwani said on March 29, last year, he was instructed by the High Command of the Ghana Armed Forces to proceed to the Yendi Government Hospital to perform autopsy on the late Ya-Na. He also performed autopsy on other 28 bodies that perished in the conflict.


He said the bodies were retrieved from the cubicles of a refrigerator at the Yendi Government Hospital Morgue in the presence of Dr Bernard Sakyi, the resident doctor, and two other witnesses.


Col Wadhwani tendered in evidence an autopsy report dated May 7, 2002, which he signed.


During cross-examination by Nana Obiri Boahene, Counsel for the accused persons, Witness agreed that Dr Sakyi identified the body of the late Ya-Na.

When Counsel asked Witness if the body could be identified as someone else's, Witness said that could be possible.


Col Wadhwani agreed with Counsel that if a DNA examination were conducted on the body, it could be better identified than the autopsy.


The case was adjourned to Friday, May 16, for continuation.