Prosecution files new charge sheet in Biochemist murder trial

The state has filed a new charge sheet in the case in which three traditional priests allegedly killed a biochemist at Adieso in the Eastern Region.

This follows the death of one of the suspects Christian Awoe Gameli, also known as Power One.

The 40-year-old priest is said to have died in police cells about two weeks ago after complaints of being unwell.

Two other suspects Famous Adukonu, also known as Scorpion, 37; and Yaw Azamate, 27; are still in custody.

On Tuesday, October 12, when the case was called at the Kaneshie District Court, the prosecution, led by Inspector Lawrence Anane, said the old charge sheet had been substituted with a new one filed on September 20.

Police have identified two other suspects captured in the new charge.

The two new faces were put before the court while one other suspect whose name was given as Michael is still at large.

The prosecutor also told the court that the case docket has been forwarded to the office of the Attorney General for advice.

Together, the accused persons are to respond to charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder. The court is yet to take their pleas, although the new charges were read to them.

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Facts of the case

The case of the prosecution was that the complainant Reverend Comfort Ruth Quartey Papafio resides at Takoradi in the Western Region.

Gameli, Adukonu and Azamete, operate their business at Adu-Kojo and Kwasi-Nyarko, all suburbs of Mame Dede in the Eastern Region.

On January 17, 2021, the complainant reported that her husband, Mr Quartey Papafio, was missing. He had left his residence at Kasoa on January 15 at about 7:30 am.

According to the prosecution, on receipt of the complainant, the police gathered intelligence that the deceased was last spotted at Gameli’s shrine located at the outskirts of Adu Kojo, which led to the arrest of Gameli and Adukonu on April 21, this year.

According to the prosecution, a search conducted at Gameli’s shrine revealed two pump action guns, one single barrel gun, eleven packets of cartridges, seven other pieces of the cartridges from his room and two shovels behind his house.

During interrogation, Gameli and Adukonu admitted to shooting the deceased with the pump-action gun and buried the corpse at the shrine.

On April 29, the two led the police to Power One Herbal/ Spiritual Centre where the police identified the deceased’s make-shift grave behind Gameli’s house.

The prosecution added that the scene was secured and an exhumation order was obtained from the court for that purpose.

On April 30, 2021, a pathologist together with senior officers from the CID Headquarters, personnel from the Crime Scene Management Team, Forensic Science Laboratory, Drone Operation and CID/ Headquarters Operational Team went to exhume the body.

When the grave was dug, the decomposed body of Mr Quartey Papafio was removed.

It was also discovered that his grave was among other graves in the accused person’s cemetery, which was well fenced.

Further investigations disclosed that on December 29, Gameli, Adukonu and Azamete conspired to kill Mr Papafio, hence lured him with the assistance of one Buzanga, also a traditional priest at Kasoa, currently at Large.

The prosecution said before the murder of the deceased, the accused deceived him to part with ¢10,650 paid through mobile money under the pretext of conjuring ¢400,000 for him to establish his company.

He said Papafio was invited to the shrine on January 15 for purification and in the process, Adukonu shot him with Gameli’s gun.

The accused then drained some quantity of Mr Papafio’s blood into a plastic gallon and hid same at the shrine while Gameli took possession of the mobile phones and later buried the deceased with the assistance of Azamate and Michael who is also on the run.

The prosecution said Gameli and Adukonu allegedly confessed to the police that the blood in the gallon was a mixture of Papafio’s blood and another victim who was also buried among other bodies at the cemetery.

He said the gallon of blood and the body were deposited at the police morgue for examination.

Mr Anani said the complainant later identified the two mobile phones of the deceased.

The prosecution said the pathologist gave the cause of death of Mr Papafio as hemorrhagic shock, traumatic amputation and unnatural severe chest pain.

The case has been adjourned to November 4, 2021.