The 18-year-old, who stands accused alongside a 15-year-old, asserted in the High Court in Accra that he was unaware of any involvement in the death of Ishmael Mensah Abdallah. Both teenagers face charges of conspiracy and murder concerning the 10-year-old Ishmael’s death, with Justice Lydia Osei Marfo presiding over the case.
While the 15-year-old, designated as the 1st Accused, confessed to the crime, claiming they acted together, the 18-year-old, identified as the 2nd Accused, denied any participation.
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During the proceedings on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, the 18-year-old began presenting his defense following the conclusion of the first accused’s case. Guided by his legal representation, he refuted the 15-year-old’s assertion that they had planned Ishmael’s demise.
“When the first accused spent the night in my house, we did not plan the death of Ishmael,” he told the Court on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.
“On Friday, (April 2, 2021), when the first accused came to my house, I asked him where he was coming from and he told me that he went to work with his father around Suhum near Nsawam.
“I asked him where his father was and he told me that his father had left earlier to the house,” he narrated to the Court.
He added, “I also asked him if he had been home and he told me that when he went home, he saw that the door had been locked so he decided to spend the night in my house because, I was home alone that day.”
“When he spent the night in my house, we did not discuss anything in relation to going to any place and on that day, he (15-year-old) did not speak to anyone on phone when he was in my house,” he told the jury.
“I told him the coming Monday, (April 5, 2021), I would want to visit my hometown. He told me he’d like to come along with me to my home town because he had heard that there’s a lot of black magic there.
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“The first accused (15-year-old juvenile) also told me that he had won a lottery and that he had GHc500 on his phone that day.
“I told him that I was feeling sleepy and I wanted to go to sleep. I turned off the light and we both slept,” he told the Court.
Unfortunate April 3
Asked by his Counsel to tell the Court what happened the next day, the 2nd Accused offered explanation.
“My lady on Saturday, April 3, 2021, when I and the first accused woke up, I told him to wash his face and start heading home since his father might be looking for him.
“After he freshened up, he left. The first accused left my house at about 5am to 6am.
“I went to brush my teeth and that is when my grand father asked me to warm the food so I and my siblings can eat.
“I lit up the fire and was about to warm the food when I saw Mr Nyarko, 1st Accused father asked how I was doing,” he narrated to the Court.
“ I said I was fine, he proceeded to tell me that he had some work to do and would like me to assist him to do that. I asked him where his son, 1st Accused was and he told me that 1st Accused wasn’t feeling well so he could not assist him.
“I asked his (1st accused) father if he was aware that his son slept over in my house on Friday,” but said, “the first accused father told me that his son did not tell him that but rather he told him that he slept in an uncompleted building close to their house,” he stated.
The case has been adjourned to February 8, 2024 for continuation.
