Abesim teens murder: Richard Appiah jailed for life after jury returned unanimous guilty verdict
The High Court in Accra has sentenced Richard Appiah, a draughtsman, to life imprisonment after being found guilty of murdering two minors and keeping the dismembered body parts of one of them in a refrigerator at Abesim.
This was after a seven-member jury panel returned a unanimous guilty verdict on each of the two counts of murder.
Appiah had pleaded the defence of insanity for killing two minors, namely Louis Agyemang, 12, and Stephen Sarpong, 15. By pleading guilty but insane, he was essentially telling the jury that he committed that act at the time he was not mentally stable.
But the jury rejected his plea of insane delusion and returned a unanimous guilty verdict of murder, effectively saying – Prosecution led by Nana Ama Adinkra, a Senior State Attorney, had discharged the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Insane delusion
His lawyer, Faustinus Yirilabuo, who was led by Theophilus Dzimega, argued the defence of insanity, saying that the accused was not mentally stable when the incident happened.
According to them, though their client committed the act, he did so under an insane delusion.
While submitting that the physical act (Actus Reus) of the abuse that culminated in the death of the teenagers was not in dispute, he urged the jury to look at why it happened.
Counsel said the jury had only been called upon to look into the inner workings of the mind (Mens Rea) that commanded or directed the accused to commit the act.
Psychiatric Reports
It was the submission of counsel for the accused that the two psychiatric reports indicate that at the time the accused, he was not mentally fit to stand trial.
And “it was until when he regained his mental state after he was consistent with his medication that they passed him for trial,” adding that the prosecution’s own assessment says that, “yet they did not tender it in evidence until we applied for it.”
Spiritual command
Counsel said the accused indicated in his statement that a spirit commanded him to kill the young boys so he strangled them. Hence, he killed a dog, removed the skin, and kept the skull in his room.
The precedent event shows that had the accused taken the medicines given to him at the Sunyani hospital, he would not have committed the murder.
He submitted that the police knew about the mental issue of the accused but “what they do not know is whether he had a mental episode when he committed the offence.”
Beyond reasonable doubt
Prosecution, led by Nana Ama Adinkra, a Senior State Attorney, had called its first of the six witnesses on May 26, 2025, to commence the trial.
In her closing submission to the jury, Counsel said, “Our burden is beyond all reasonable doubt,” and explained that, “It simply means that at the end of our case and the defence, you have to weigh our case and that of the defence.”
The SSA submitted that both deceased were strangled to death before Stephen Sarpong was beheaded and dismembered.
“We believe that we were able to establish an initial case after which he was asked to open his defence, which he did,” she submitted.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this is the evidence of the defence, that the accused was under an insane delusion at the time he committed the offence.
“It is our position that the evidence on record shows that he committed the offence intentionally and knew exactly what he was doing. The defence in their case did not raise any reasonable doubt to that effect. At best, the case of the defence is an admission that the accused committed the offence but that he was under insane delusion.
“If in your estimation ladies and gentlemen of the jury the accused position is tenable then we impress upon you to return a verdict of guilty but insane as there is overwhelming evidence that he committed the crime knowing that his actions were wrong.
“However, his defence of lunacy should not operate as a complete defence leading to an acquittal as the evidence led by the prosecution has shown that the accused is liable for the killing of the two young boys,” she urged.
Conclusion
“The prosecution has had the onerous task of proving the guilt of the accused person beyond reasonable doubt. The acts of the accused person of having killed the two young boys Louis Agyeman and Stephen Sarpong has never in doubt,” the SSA stated.
“The main issue for determination was the sanity of the accused at the time he committed the offence.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have had to sit through long hours of the trial listening to the heart wrenching testimony of a father whose son went missing and was found dead.
“You have had the uncomfortable task of seeing images of the dismembered body of that missing son, Stephen Sarpon who had his whole life ahead of him. Louis Agyeman almost suffered the same fate as Stephen Sarpong. Though he was not dismembered, he was killed in a similar fashion by none other than his half-brother,” she said.
“We have led evidence to show that the accused was in control of his mental faculties at the time he committed the offences. We also punched holes in the defence of the accused who were unable to give convincing evidence as to the insanity of the accused at the time he committed the offence.
“It is your duty now as members of the jury to deliberate on the evidence led by both parties and to decide whether or not the accused intentionally killed the two young boys.
“At the end of your deliberations, we entreat you to return a verdict of guilty for the accused person on both counts of murder for Louis Agyeman Junior and Stephen Sarpong as our evidence establishes same.
Emotions
The courtroom was filled with emotion as the verdict was read. The victims’ parents were overcome with grief, crying uncontrollably as they relived their loss.
The pain of losing their children was palpable, bringing a mix of relief and anguish. The prosecution had fought to bring Appiah to justice, presenting overwhelming evidence.
EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reports that lawyers of the convict have indicated their resolve to challenge the verdict and the subsequent conviction and sentence at the Court of Appeal.
Background
Appiah was arraigned at the High Court for 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 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 trial judge, Justice Ruby Aryeetey, prior to handing down the sentence, declined the prosecution’s request for the father of one of the victims to address the court.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
