Eleven Atronie murder suspects to stand trial at high court

Sunyani, Jan. 30, GNA - A magistrate's court in Sunyani on Tuesday committed eleven persons arrested in connection with the Atronie murder case to stand trial at a high court.

They are Douglas Afriyie, Stephen Donkor, Kwasi Nyantakyi, Kwaku Agyeman Badu, Adama Hamidu, James Danquah, Kwame Anokye, Kwaku Lartey Charles Kwaku Yeboah, Kwame Krah and Kwadwo Awuah. Assistant Superintendent of Police Martin Deafeamekpor told the court presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah that the 11 had formally been charged with murder and causing damage after police investigations. The court, however, discharged six others, including the queen mother of the town, Nana Wirekoa Afriyie and her husband, Emmanuel Kwabena Ampong, who were also arrested for abetment of crime and harbouring criminals.

The suspects, all residents of the town, were among 30 persons arrested by the police after the murder of Mr Anthony Yeboah Boateng, Administrator of Goaso Government Hospital on Easter Sunday last year at Atronie, near Sunyani.

The deceased was pounced upon and killed at about 21:30 hours by some unidentified youth at Atronie as he, his wife and a Roman Catholic Sister were conveying the dead body of his aunt in his private car from Sunyani to Goaso. The youth had barricaded the road for a street jam to celebrate the Easter festivities and allegedly suspected Mr Boateng to be a ritual murderer.

The two women were saved by a policeman who whisked them to the safety of the police station but also had his share of the assault. The late Boateng, who was also the Presiding Member of Asunafo North District Assembly, also had his Audi car damaged by the irate youth.