Dejected lover goes to jail for attempting to kill ex-lover

Asamankese, May 5, GNA - Yaw Botwe, a 22-year-old farmer, who was madly in love with his ex-lover and therefore threatened to butcher her with a cutlass and take his own life is to serve five years in prison in hard labour.

When Botwe appeared before the Asamankese Circuit Court on Wednesday, he pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea. Prosecuting, Police Detective Chief Inspector Robert Bediako, told the court that both the complainant, Vida Essel and the convict were farmers and former lovers.

He said the relations fell on rocks following persistent quarrels and as a result of the break, Botwe demanded GHC 79 Ghana cedis from the woman for the services he rendered on her farm. The prosecutor said the complainant paid the amount, but shortly after that Botwe pleaded with her for reconciliation. When she refused, on April 21, the convict trailed her to her farm and threatened to butcher her with a cutlass. The woman raised the alarm, which attracted nearby farmers who rushed to the scene and rescued her.

When Botwe was searched, a bottle of DDT (poisonous pesticide), which he admitted he would have drank to kill himself if he had succeeded in killing the ex-lover was found on him. The prosecutor said the woman later reported the case to the police and when they went to Abamkrom to arrest him, he resisted arrest and in the process tore the uniform of a Police Inspector. He was nevertheless overpowered, arrested and escorted to the Nyanoa Police station. When asked by the Judge, Mr Emmanuel Siameh, the reason for his action, Botwe replied that he was deeply in love with the woman and could not afford to lose her. 5 May 10