Koforidua Magistrate Court presided over by Her Worship Nana Ama Dabbah Fynn Esquire has remanded Felix Teye, a farmer into prison custody for allegedly shooting a 27-year-old woman, Kwesi Gladys, to death during a misunderstanding over a burial ritual.
The Prosecuting officer Sargeant George Defia told the court that, the complainant in the case Ayertey Albert,30, is a farmer residing at Atua a suburb of Somanya with his wife.
Whilst the accused Felix Teye stays with his wife at Koremhwere village.
Three months ago, one of the daughters of the accused person died Kwasi Tia, the father of the deceased woman -Kwasi Gladys in agreement with the bereaved family carried the body on his back from Korhwere village to Konkoney to bury her
The accused person was expected to give a white fowl and a bottle of locally manufactured gin (Akpeteshie) to Kwasi Tia to perform rituals for his soul by carrying the corpse and burring it, however, the accused refused to do so.
Kwasi Tia became angry and complained bitterly to the complainant, his wife, and two daughters -Kwasi Naomi and Kwasi Gladys that because the rituals have not been done he doesn’t feel okay in his spirit.
On July 24, 2022, at about 7:00 am the complainant, led Kwasi Tia and his two daughters- Kwasi Naomi and Kwasi Gladys to the house of suspect Felix Teye to talk to him about the rituals to be performed for Kwasi Tia however they met the wife of the suspect-Esther Dede Tetteh who told them her husband was not at home, therefore, they should leave the house.
However, they decided to wait for Felix Teye to return. One of Kwasi Tia’s daughters, Kwasi Naomi picked a bench from the compound of the house for them to sit on but suddenly, the suspect’s wife violently snatched the bench from her which led to the altercation.
The accused person’s wife Esther Dede Tetteh pulled a pestle from her room and attempted to hit the head of Kwasi Naomi but her now deceased sister Kwasi Gladys disarmed and intercepted it.
The wife entered the room again and pulled another stick to hit the Kwasi Gladys but was intercepted which led to a struggle and chaotic fight.
The complainant Ayertey Albert attempted to separate them by standing in their midst, but the accused aimed and shot Kwasi Gladys from a nearby bush about thirty meters away from his house.
After the heinous crime, he attempted to run away but was chased and arrested by the complainant.
A single barrel gun and five live cartridges were seized from him.
Injured Kwasi Gladys was rushed to Asesewa Government Hospital but was pronounced dead thirty minutes later by Physician Assistant Kingsley Akorli.
The accused was detained by Asesewa Police together with the exhibit. Upon investigation, he was charged and arraigned before the Koforidua District Court for a committal trial.
The case has been adjourned.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
