Rev. Dr. David Nagbemado, killed Head Pastor of Central Assemblies of God. INSET: Francis Nagbemado after he was arrested.
Francis Nagbemado, the 31-year-old private security man, who has been arrested for stabbing the head pastor of the Central Assemblies of God, Rev. Dr. David Nagbemado to death, is to undergo psychiatric assessment.
The exercise, which will be carried out through a court order, is to ascertain the mental state of the suspect who happens to be the nephew of the slain pastor.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Joseph Benefo Darkwah, spokesperson of the Tema Regional Police Command, “The suspect is currently in our custody but it is very likely a mental examination to determine his state of mind will be ordered by the court if he is arraigned.”
He stated that the police were putting together all necessary evidence to arraign the suspect.
Last Sunday, worshippers of the Community 4, Tema Branch of the Central Assemblies of God Church, were astounded prior to the commencement of church service due to the death of the head pastor.
The church service to mark the last Sunday of the year eventually turned into a mournful state after the suspect stabbed the head pastor, who was about to leave the inner office to preach, in the neck.
According to reports, Francis, who was neatly dressed in black suit, stormed the church premises after drinking local gin.
Reports said without any provocation, he pulled the dagger from the black briefcase and stabbed his uncle twice. The pastor was busily going through his documents ahead of the sermon for the day.
When one of the church elders appeared on the scene, the suspect directed him to immediately inform the security men of the death of the uncle.
Immediately, the church elder raised the alarm which attracted other worshipers to the scene.
The suspect, upon seeing the congregants, took to his heels and scaled the church’s main fence wall.
Some residents, who became suspicious because of the dagger and blood, gave him a hot chase and arrested him around Site 7 Roundabout where he attempted to board a taxi to escape.
The police arrived at the scene to rescue him from the aggrieved residents who struck him with sticks, concrete blocks, metal rods, among others.
Francis, at the time of his arrest, had a bottle of alcohol, turpentine, knife and matches in his possession.
He later accused his uncle of sacrificing some of the church and family members, saying that “he has sacrificed all the family and has destroyed everybody so I had to go for idols for protection. He also sacrificed about two or three in a year.”
Asked what he intended to do with the items in his possession, Francis said he wanted to burn the alleged deity of Rev Nagbemado, who died a few hours after being rushed to the health facility.
He also blamed the head pastor for his supposed impotency and misfortune.
From Vincent Kubi, Tema