Jail Term, Plea, Wife Demands: Details from trial of murder of US-based Prof Akamani

Betty Akamani, wife of United States-based Ghanaian professor at Southern Illinois University, Dr Kofi Akamani, has pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against her for the murder of her husband. According to multiple reports, Betty Akamani pleaded not guilty to the charges during court proceedings on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The accused person also requested a jury trial, which was granted by the court and scheduled to start on November 16, 2026. Presiding Judge Joshua Stratemeyer went on to read the grand jury's bill of indictment filed on Monday, October 5, 2026, which described the charges and possible sentence Betty Akamani faces. The charges are two counts of first-degree murder — one for intent to kill and another for a strong probability of causing death or great bodily harm — and one count of endangering the life or health of a child by leaving a firearm and ammunition readily available. The details of the bill of indictment indicated that the accused person was likely to receive a jail term of 25 years if she is found guilty. “Both murder charges have a sentencing range of 20-60 years, with a sentencing enhancement of 25 years to life in prison if the jury finds she personally discharged a firearm that caused her husband's death,” part of a report by US-based news portal wpslocal6.com read. The report indicated that Betty pleaded not guilty to the charges and also asked the court for a public defender, which had been denied at a previous hearing because her income did not qualify her for a court-appointed attorney. From Professor to Pastor’s Wife: 4 times Ghanaians have been shot or stabbed by their spouses in the US This time around, a public defender, Attorney Celeste Korando, was assigned to represent her. Before the trial starts on November 16, 2026 a final pre-trial hearing is set for October 27, 2026, and a status hearing for November 9, 2026. About the murder of Dr Kofi Akamani Dr Kofi Akamani reportedly died after being shot multiple times by his wife at a home in Jackson County, Illinois. His wife, 35-year-old Betty Akamani, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with his death. According to court records and the Jackson County State's Attorney's Office, the couple had been separated for about two years and were in the process of getting a divorce. According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a reported shooting at about 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Court records indicate that Betty Akamani is accused of shooting her 48-year-old husband multiple times while he was sitting in his car in the driveway of her Murphysboro home. Kofi Akamani was taken to a hospital in Carbondale, where he later died from his injuries. The Jackson County State's Attorney, Marsha Cascio-Hale, later confirmed that the shooting occurred at a home on Anthony Drive. BAI/VPO Inside Ghana’s Abandoned Engineering Powerhouse: What Went Wrong? Source: www.ghanaweb.com
« Previous | Next »