The High Court in Accra has ordered Richard Appiah, the draughtsman accused of killing two minors and keeping the dismembered body parts of one of them in a refrigerator at Abesim near Sunyani, to open his defense to charges.
Appiah is facing two counts of murder and has pleaded not guilty, while the prosecution has paraded six witnesses to prove their case.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case upon the conclusion of cross-examination of their witnesses by the defense, the court said there is a case for the accused to answer.
Justice Ruby Aryeetey, the trial judge, in her ruling on submission of no case to answer, said the prosecution had made a case for which the court ought to hear from the accused.
Consequently, the court has adjourned the case to October 30 for the accused to open his defense to charges.
Prosecution led by Nana Ama Adinkra, a Senior State Attorney, had called its first witness on May 26 to commence the trial.
Appiah had pleaded not guilty before the High Court for allegedly killing two minors, namely Louis Agyemang, 12, and Stephen Sarpong, 15.
The prosecution had relied on documents listed in the summary of evidence attached to the bill of indictment filed on May 31, 2023.
These documents include investigation cautioned statements of the accused person dated August 21, 2021, further investigation cautioned statements of the accused dated August 23, 2021, and September 10, 2021.
The prosecution also relied on the autopsy reports of Stephen Sarpong and Louis Agyemang Jnr. dated December 16, 2022, and May 25, 2023, respectively.
Additionally, photographs of the deceased parts of Stephen Sarpong, partially burnt clothes, slippers, and photographs of the clothes of the deceased Stephen Sarpong were also relied on.
Furthermore, photographs of a double-door fridge of the accused containing body parts of the deceased Stephen Sarpong and a charge statement of the accused dated November 10, 2022, were also relied on.
The accused, who is in lawful custody, is being represented by Lawyer Faustinus Yirilabuo.
