Farmer to die for murder

Tamale, March 8, GNA - A Tamale High Court on Tuesday sentenced a 24-year-old farmer, Adapiah Addah to death by hanging for murdering his friend with whom he had bought a 2,000-cedi pito on credit at Damongo. The accused pleaded guilty to murder.

The Supervising High Court Judge, Mr Justice Vincent C. Doegah passed the judgment after the seven-member jury had returned a verdict of guilt on Addah.

The Prosecution told the court that Addah and the deceased, Frank Dabolga were friends who lived at Canteen, a suburb of Damongo. On November 18, 2001, the two friends went to a pito drinking bar and bought 2,000 cedis worth of pito on credit but two weeks later a misunderstanding arose between the two as to who should pay for the pito.

The prosecution said one David Zato, a friend of the two appeared on the scene and paid the 2,000-cedi debt to avoid any confrontation between them. He later invited them to the bar and bought more pito. After drinking, the accused and the deceased decided to see Zato off but on their way, Addah raised the 2,000 cedis issue again. Zato however, warned them not to revisit the issue since he had already settle the debt and asked them to go back to their respective homes in peace because he did not want any confrontation.

The prosecution told the court that when the accused and the deceased turned to go, the accused drew a pair of scissors and stabbed the deceased and threw it into the bush but it was later retrieved. Zato, who saw what had happened, rushed to the West Gonja Hospital at Damongo and arranged for an Ambulance to convey the deceased to the hospital. Dabolga was however pronounced dead on arrival. The case was reported to the Damongo police, who arrested Addah, the prosecution said.