One of the three fetish priests standing trial over the death of Edward Quartey Papafio, a 64-year-old retired Bio-Chemist at Adeiso in the Eastern Region, has died.
The GNA was told Christian Awoe Gameli, aka, Power One, 40, who had been unwell, died whilst in police cells about two weeks ago.
Gameli, Famous Adukonu, also known as (aka), Scorpion, 37, and Yaw Azamate, 27, are being held on the charges of conspiracy to commit a crime to wit murder.
They had their pleas preserved when they appeared before the Court presided over by Ms Rosemond DoduaAgyiri.
Meanwhile, a bench warrant issued for the arrest of one Michael Ahiavinye and one Buzanga, who are at large, is still in force.
Detective Inspector Lawrence Anani told the court that the complainant is Reverend Comfort Ruth Quartey-Papafio, who resides at Takoradi in the Western Region.
Gameli, Adukonu and Azamete were said to operate their business at Adu-Kojo and Kwasi-Nyarko, all suburbs of MaameDede in the Eastern Region.
The prosecution said on January 17, this year, the complainant reported of the disappearance of her husband, MrQuarteyPapafio, from his residence at Kasoa on January 15, this year, at about 0733 hours.
Insp Anani said the police gathered intelligence that Mr Papafiowas last spotted at Gameli’s shrine, at the outskirts of AduKojo, which led to the arrest of Gameli and Adukonu on April 21, last year.
According to prosecution, a search conducted at Gameli’s shrine uncovered two pump action guns, one single barrel gun, and 11 packets of cartridges and seven other cartridges were found in his room and two shovels found hidden at the back of his house.
Insp Anani said during interrogation, Gameli and Adukonu admitted shooting Quarte Papafiowith a pump-action gun on January 15, this year, and burying the corpse at the shrine.
Prosecution said on April 29, last year, the two led the police to Power One herbal/ Spiritual Centre where the police identified the deceased’s grave in a make-shift cemetery behind Gameli’s house.
Insp Anani said the crime scene was secured and an exhumation order was obtained from the Court.
He said on April 30, last year, a pathologist in the company of Senior Officers from the CID Headquarters, personnel from the Crime Scene Management Team, Forensic Science Laboratory, Drone Operation, and CID/ Headquarters Operational Team together with Gameli and Adukonu, exhumed the bodyQuarteyPapafio..
Insp Anani said investigations disclosed that on December 29, 2019, Gameli, Adukonu and Azamete conspired to kill Papafio, and lured him with the assistance of one Buzanga, also a traditional priest, at Kasoa.
Prosecution said Gameli collected Gh¢10,650 (mobile money) from Mr Papafiounder the pretext of conjuring Gh¢400,000.00 for him to boost his company.
Insp Anani said Papafio was invited to the Shrine on January 15, last year, for purification, and in the process, Adukonu shot him with Gameli’s gun.
Prosecution said Adukonu drained quantity of Papafio’s blood into a plastic gallon and hid it at the shrine whiles Gameli took possession of Papafio’s mobile phones and buried him with the assistance of Azamate and Michael who were on the run.
Gameli and Adukonu are expected in court on October 12. – GNA
