The late Prof. Emmanuel Benneh
A mason apprentice has been sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment in hard labour for his role in the murder of the late Senior Law Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Prof. Emmanuel Benneh.
Ebenezer Kwayisi, alias Junior, was standing trial before a High Court in Accra for abetting the prime suspect, James Nana Womba, 26 (deceased), a cleaner at the Law Lecturer’s residence in the gruesome killing of the senior lecturer.
His sentencing followed a plea bargain his legal team entered with the Office of the Attorney General, which the convict agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter for a reduced sentence.
The plea bargain was accepted by the court presided over by Justice Mary Yanzuh, and Kwayisi pleaded guilty, convicted on his own plea and sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment in hard labour for manslaughter instead of murder.
Gruesome Murder
Prof. Benneh was found dead in a pool of blood on the corridor leading to his bedroom in his Adjiringanor mansion at East Legon, Accra, on September 12, 2020.
His body was found same day by his sister, Ambassador Elizabeth Afia Benneh and others after they broke the lock into his residence. They had not heard from him since the night of September 10, 2020.
In the course of investigations, three suspects were arrested – James Nana Womba, who was believed to have strangled the deceased to death, also died in custody on October 17, 2020.
After investigations were concluded, the docket was forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General on February 17, 2021 and the Attorney General recommended the prosecution of the suspects.
On May 21, 2021, a Bill of Indictment was filed to commence the prosecution of Ebenezer Kwayisi.
Per the advice of the Attorney General, dated March 2, 2021, Opambour Agya Badu Nkansah, one of the accused persons, was discharged by the Kaneshie District Court.
Prime Suspect’s Confession
Womba, before his death, allegedly ‘confessed’ to killing the law lecturer with the aid of Opambuor Agya Badu Nkansah, a resident of Ashaiman, and two others who are currently on the run.
Inspector Teye-Okuffo, presenting the facts, indicated that Prof. Benneh was found dead in his house on September 12, 2020.
He told the court that the police found the victim lying in a pool of blood with his hands and legs tied together on a corridor leading to his bedroom.
The court heard that the deceased had marks of assault on his body with a rag stuck in his mouth.
Inspector Teye-Okuffo also told the court that the body of the deceased was in a state of decomposition when it was found.
Cause of Death
He also told the court that an examination of the body of the Professor disclosed the cause of death as asphyxiation, strangulation and suspected homicide.
Three suspects namely Isaac Botchwey, 41, houseboy; Christian Pobee, 32, cleaner; Adams Mensah Mansur, 52, a gardener, all workers in the Professor’s mansion, who were initially arrested in connection with the gruesome murder, were subsequently discharged by the court.
Prosecution’s Facts
The prosecution said on September 12, 2020, at about 8am, the deceased was found lying dead in a pool of blood in a corridor leading to his bedroom.
He said the deceased was lying in prone position with his hands tied behind him with a white rope and his legs also tied with a green rope just below the knees.
According to the prosecution, examination of the body of the victim revealed multiple marks of assault on the face, with a cloth partly inserted in his mouth.
He disclosed that the police found on the scene a hand glove, a white rope with blood stains, and blood stains on the walls.
The prosecution said Police Crime Scene Management Team examined the scene and lifted a visible blood tainted thumb impression on the wall close to where the victim’s body laid.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak