Crime

Farmer jailed 20 years… for defilement, faces murder charge

A 36-year-old farmer, John Kwame Annan, who defiled and allegedly killed his 14-year-old stepdaughter, has been jailed 20 years in hard labour for defilement while the murder case is pending.

The Attorney General’s (AG) Department has taken the alleged murder case to the High Court to begin trial.

The convict pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement at circuit court in Cape Coast, but the presiding judge Mrs Dorinda Smith Arthur, found him guilty.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector John Asare Bediako, told the court that Annan, a married man, lived with his five children at Manford near Apam, in the Central Region.

The court heard that step­daughter lived with her mother at Asona, near Nkawkaw, in the Eastern Region.

Chief Insp Bediako said in 2017, when Annan traveled to Asona in search of job, he met the deceased’s mother, Ms Afia Boakyewaa, and later stayed with her (as lovers) and the daughter.

The court heard that Annan had sex with an elder sister of the deceased as well as the mother, which came to the attention of Ms Boakyewaa’s family.

Chief Insp Bediako said Annan confessed having sex with the mother and daughter and was banished from Asona.

He said Annan after the banish­ment, went and settle at Twifo Pra­so, where he met another woman (lover and witness in the case).

Prosecution said in 2019, An­nan returned to Asona and also brought the stepdaughter to Twifo Praso without the knowledge of her parents, and introduced her to the new lover as his daughter.

Chief Insp Bediako said Annan had sex with the stepdaughter, and on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, the deceased, in the company of Annan and the new woman, went to farm at Afedzie, near Twifo Praso.

The court heard that Annan asked his new lover to remain in a cottage while he and the step­daughter harvest cocoyam at the farm.

Chief Inspector Bediako said without any provocation, Annan attacked and inflicted deep cutlass wounds on the girl’s forehead.

The new lover, upon hearing screams from the girl, rushed to the scene and when she saw the horrible scene, she shouted for help, which attracted people and Annan was arrested.

Chief Insp Bediako said the po­lice rescued the convict from being lynched by the people.

He said Annan was first ar­raigned on a provisional charge of murder, but the case was transferred from the Twifo Praso District Court to the Cape Coast circuit court.

The court heard that post-mor­tem examination was performed on the body and the report and docket on the case was forwarded to the AG in Cape Coast.

Chief Insp Bediako said the AG advised that Annan be charged for defilement and murder, and the murder case will be handled at the High Court. — GNA

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