Putubiw murder suspect remanded

A 25 year- old farmer, accused of murdering another farmer at Putubiw near Asebu Ekroful in Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District of the Central Region was on Tuesday remanded into prison’s custody by Cape Coast District Magistrate Court.

John Arthur who was charged with murder is the fourth person standing trial in connection with cases of murder in the area.

His plea was not taken and the case docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office for advice.

He would be re-arraigned on Monday February 2.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Charles Yao Anku told the Court presided over by Mr William Baffoe that the complainant is a business man living at Putubiw.

He said on Friday January 2, at about 1500 hours, the deceased, Kofi Akwa, 58, went to Putubiw to visit a friend and on his way back to Asebu Ekroful through a bush path, he met Arthur at Apewosika-Putubiw Junction where Arthur was supposedly hunting for rats.

He said Akwa queried Arthur about where he was heading with a machete, in view of recent attacks on residents of the town, but this infuriated the accused who inflicted machete wounds on the left side of Akwa’s neck.

Chief Inspector Anku said Akwa fell to the ground and Arthur dragged the lifeless body a distance away, abandoned it and escaped to Apewosika through Putubiw.

According to him, Arthur’s behaviour in the town triggered suspicion among the youth, who arrested him and sent him to the Chief’s palace, where he confessed to the crime.

He was handed over to the Police and in his caution statement admitted the offence.