The High Court has delivered its final verdict, sentencing the second accused, Nicholas Kini, to life in prison.
Kini, who was 18 at the time of the crime, was found guilty of both murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Meanwhile, the first accused, who was just 15 when the incident occurred, has been referred to juvenile court for sentencing. The High Court does not have the authority to sentence minors.
The gruesome crime, which has shocked the nation, was initially sparked by a video of a spiritualist promising wealth in exchange for GH¢5,000 and human blood. The first accused admitted to hatching the plan with Kini after seeing the video. Investigators revealed that the two initially intended to kidnap the young boy to extort ransom from his parents but instead lured him to an uncompleted building.
There, the child was brutally attacked, struck with a stick and cement blocks, before being buried alive. The cause of death was later determined as suffocation, according to a pathologist’s testimony.
The prosecution’s case featured key witnesses, including the victim’s father and sister, as well as police officers and the pathologist who conducted the post-mortem. The court heard that the father discovered his son’s body after his daughter raised the alarm, having seen the two suspects near the crime scene.
While the first accused pleaded guilty to conspiracy but not to murder, Nicholas Kini denied any involvement, claiming he was elsewhere during the crime. However, the jury found overwhelming evidence against both teenagers.
In her final address, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo urged the jury to weigh the facts and deliver justice carefully. After deliberations, the seven-member jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict for both suspects.
Nicholas Kini now faces life in prison, while the juvenile court will determine the fate of the younger accomplice.
Speaking to the media after the sentencing, the uncle of the deceased Harrison Mensah said the family is satisfied with the judgement adding that the judgement does not bring any closure to the family
On his part, Samuel Atuah, Counsel for the juvenile indicated that the evidence was obvious as his client admitted to the offence from the beginning of the trial.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Boampong, the Lawyer for the 18-year-old convict, says he will apply for the verdict, weigh the merits, and wait for advice from the convict’s family on whether to appeal.
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Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
