Konongo Odumase SHS murder suspects remanded

Five Konongo Odumase Senior High School (SHS) murder suspects have been remanded into police custody by the Konongo District Court.

The suspects, who are in court for their alleged involvement in the stabbing of a first-year student, have been sent to a Juvenile Detention Centre at Juaso in the Asante Akim South Municipality to reappear on 15 November 2021.

Emmanuel Osei Frimpong, a second-year student, is alleged to have stabbed and killed Larhan Sam-una with a kitchen knife on Friday, November 5.

The deceased intervened to stop Frimpong from bullying another student only for him to be killed in cold blood.

Sam-una bled profusely after the wounds and died shortly after he was rushed to the Konongo-Odumase Government Hospital.

The main suspect, Frimpong, and one other were arrested at about 9:50 pm on the same day.

Three other suspects mentioned as accomplices were also picked and are currently in police custody.

The first accused, Emmanuel, has since been charged provisionally with murder, while four others were charged with abetment to commit a crime.

Two of the accused persons are 16 years, while the three others are 17 years.

Konongo Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Shaibu Osei, who spoke to journalists after proceedings, said they have put together a team of investigators to look at the matter speedily, and ensure they meet the legal timeline of six months to complete the trial.

“We brought the juveniles to court and as investigations are not completed, we came to get them remanded so investigations continue. Thankfully, the court granted our request, and they have been remanded to reappear on the 15th of November,” he said after proceedings on Monday.

Meanwhile, the district court is said to have referred the matter to a high court to ensure due processes are followed because of the ages of the accused persons.

“The court has directed the registrar to forward all recordings to the supervising high court judge to direct the court on the next line of action. They cannot be remanded for more than seven days so next week we will come back to court since they are in our custody,” the commander added.

How did the murder occur?

Initial investigations disclosed that the students closed from prep at about 8:30 pm and went back to their various dormitories.

But these five suspects who are all in form two ganged up and decided to go to one of the houses to bully the first-year students.

They reportedly attacked one Kwame Manu first.

They turned their attention on one Prince Amoako and attempted to drag him away to molest him, but other first-year students rescued him from the suspects.

This action, according to the police, infuriated Frimpong who attempted to slap one of them but the deceased stopped him.

Out of anger, Frimpong is said to have pulled a small kitchen knife that he had concealed and stabbed the deceased at the lower left ribs, leading to his death.

The other accused persons are Akwasi Amoah Karikari alias Demon, Kwame Afrane Snr, Kwame Afrane Jnr and Obed Agyei.