Farmer in custody for allegedly murdering wife
The 60-year-old farmer who allegedly murdered his 55-year-old wife in the bush at Akyem Akroso in the Eastern Region for denying him sex, has been remanded in prison custody for two months by the Oda District Magistrate Court.
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The accused, Kofi Forson, whose plea was not taken, will reappear before the court, presided over by Mr Albert Annor-Owusu, on September 30, 2013.
The magistrate also directed the police to send the case docket to the Attorney-General’s Department for advice.
The victim, Afia Botwe, who married Forson 41 years ago and had eight children with him, lost her mother, who is yet to be buried, about two months ago.
The facts of the case, as presented by Inspector Sabian Sallah were that Forson had been at loggerheads with the wife for about a month now as a result of the refusal of the woman to have sex with him.
Forson had complained bitterly about the problem to some of his friends, who had intervened, but to no avail.
Around 8 a.m. on July 20, 2013, Botwe left home for her farm at Akroso and her husband followed up later.
Forson returned from farm that day without his wife accompanying him, a development which was unusual.
In the night, Botwe’s brother visited the couple’s house and asked his nephews about the whereabouts of their mother, to which they replied that she had not returned from farm.
When Botwe’s brother questioned the brother-in-law about the whereabouts of his sister, Forson could not give any tangible answer.
The man, who was suspicious that something unusual might have happened to his sister, therefore, reported the matter to the Akroso Chief, who organised a search party to look for the woman the following day.
Forson, who was made to lead the search party, intentionally led the members of the party in a different direction to deceive them, but the deceased’s brother compelled him to send them to his farm.
After walking for about 30 minutes, the deceased’s brother became curious when he saw fresh leaves covering something under a tree.
When members of the search party visited the place and removed the leaves, they saw Botwe’s mutilated body in a pool of blood.
The search party immediately arrested Forson and sent him to the Akroso Police, who immediately placed him in custody to assist in investigations.
The police later went to the crime scene, took pictures of the deceased and conveyed the body to the Oda Government Hospital for autopsy.
By Samuel Kyei-Boateng/Daily Graphic/Ghana