Couple Gunned Down Over right to cocoa farm

A couple living at Brikyakrom, near Watreso in the Amansie east district of Ashanti were on the day of Eid-ul-Fetir (November 2nd 2005) allegedly shot dead by the man's junior brother Kwame Fenyi, over who has the right to a cocoa farm bequeathed to them by their late father.

The deceased persons and the suspect are all native's of Gomoa Assin Brofoyeduru and are currently farming at Brikyakrom in the Amansie east district.

The deceased couple Yaw Papanhye 32 and the wife Stella Korkor (alias Adwoa) were at about 4p.m on the day of the incident allegedly found dead at their kitchen. Whiles the man received the shot in the right ribs, the wife was shot in the face, disfiguring the lips and neck killing them instantly.

Briefing “The Servant” on the incident, a senior brother of the deceased man and the suspect, John K. Manu said for sometime now, suspect has been quarreling with the deceased over a farmland containing cocoa produce which was bequeathed to the children by their father before his death some ten years ago. Mr. J. K. Manu who works with the M.B.C. said the suspect joined the deceased persons at the village some two years ago to farm, after his masonry profession had failed to sustain him. He told this paper that his brother Fenyi, has been living with the wife and the couple in the same village.

He said on daily basis, Fenyi escorts the wife to Dwumako where she processes gari for sale and fetches her belonging later in the day, after he's worked with the brother Yaw Panpanhye on the farm.

Further investigations by our reporters revealed that on the day of the incident, whiles the couple were drying cocoa beans in their residence, a misunderstanding ensued compelling Fenyi to leave the scene. Although details of the conflict were unclear, it is believed to have centered on the right to the cocoa farm which is the only legacy left by their late father. Our sources further hinted that on leaving the scene Fenyi visited the wife and allegedly demanded to know where to get cartridges to buy in the area. Shocked by the husband's enquiry, the wife asked what he intended using the said cartridges for but was brushed off.

Later in the day, news went round that Kwame Fenyi has allegedly killed the couple in cold blood and taken to his heels. Mr. J. K. Manu told the Manso-Nkwanta police in a statement that he received a call on the alleged killing and when he went to the village saw the dead couple.

Following a coroner's report by the police an autopsy was conducted on the deceased persons by Dr. K. Asare-Bawuah, a pathologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

The dead have since been buried dead investigations are continuing.