The High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice El-Freda Dankyi, has sentenced Otis Kwadwo Antwi, a driver, to life imprisonment for the murder of Emmanuel Okai, a 35-year-old auto sprayer and car dealer known as “Yaw Home Use.”
The verdict was delivered on Friday, November 22, 2024, after a unanimous decision by a seven-member jury.
The trial, which spanned several years, concluded with the jury finding Antwi guilty of the gruesome crime committed at Mpohor.
The prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Mrs. Sefakor Batse, called seven witnesses whose testimonies were pivotal in securing the conviction.
The Prosecution’s Case
Mrs. Batse argued that the accused intended to kill the deceased, evidenced by the severe injuries inflicted.
The deceased was slashed with a sharp object, causing his organs to spill out.
His body also bore multiple cuts, and it was evident he had been dragged along the road for some distance.
The PSA described the injuries as “horrible,” emphasizing they were deliberately inflicted to ensure death.
A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as “severe haemorrhage due to multiple lacerations.”
Investigations revealed that the deceased’s Toyota RAV 4 vehicle was sold by the accused after the murder.
The unregistered vehicle, which had been in the possession of the deceased for a potential transaction, was eventually recovered in Kumasi, registered under new plates.
Counsel for the accused, Akwasi Opoku Agyemang, who held the brief of Joe Debrah Esq., argued that the prosecution’s case was based on speculation rather than incontrovertible evidence.
He maintained that the burden of proof required by law had not been met, and the jury could not conclude guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
He pointed out inconsistencies in the prosecution’s evidence and claimed the accused’s alleged lies could not absolve the prosecution from its duty to provide concrete proof.
In her summation, Justice Dankyi reminded the jury of the legal standards for a conviction, including the burden of proof on the prosecution.
She directed them to consider the implications of their verdict on the families involved and the wider community.
The jury’s unanimous guilty verdict held the accused accountable for the murder, culminating in his sentencing under Section 46 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Brief Facts of the Case
The incident dates back to June 6, 2015, when the deceased, Emmanuel Okai, informed a friend and a complainant in the case that he was traveling to Takoradi with a Toyota RAV 4 vehicle to show it to potential buyers.
That was the last time he was seen alive.
Days later, his mutilated body was discovered on a road between Awunakrom and Mpohor with severe injuries, including a gaping wound near his ribs.
His personal belongings were found at the scene, but the Toyota RAV 4 was missing.
Police investigations traced the vehicle to a businessman in Kumasi, who revealed he had purchased it from the accused.
Antwi admitted to selling the car but made inconsistent claims about the circumstances, including fabrications about interactions with the deceased after his death.
