Suspect in Prof. Benneh murder trial dies

The main suspect who allegedly confessed involvement in the murder of law lecturer, Prof. Yaw Benneh has died.

The suspect, James Nana Womba, who was the cleaner in the late lecturer’s household died at the police hospital in Accra last Saturday, the police say.

The 26-year old was rushed to the intensive care unit of the police hospital and put on oxygen.

He died shortly after that, police say. According to the police, James Wamba had been sick for a while.

But they would not disclose the cause of death. They have also declined to give details of the death.

James Nana Wamba, a cleaner, and Opambour Agya Badu Nkansah had been on remand since late September.

Together, they have been charged with unlawful and intentional cause of death and murder.

It was the cleaner who mentioned Opambour as an accomplice in what is believed to be an inside job in the gruesome murder of the late law professor at his Adjiriganor mansion in Accra on September 10, 2020.

Video: A houseboy, Isaac Botchway spoke to theghanareport.com’s Manasseh Azure who was at the mansion following the murder

There were no signs of a break-in at the Adjiriganor mansion where the lecturer lived a solitary life.

The Criminal Investigations Department has said the late suspect had a spare key to the mansion.

The police alleged James Nana Wamba had gone into the mansion to steal but not to kill. But when the professor tried to resist them, they fatally assaulted him.

His body was found three days later with a cloth stuffed in his mouth and his hands tied behind his back.

James Nana Womba is said to have taken two mobile phones, GHC450, and the CPU from a desktop computer at the house, which he hid in a septic tank, the CID has said.

“Based on forensic evidence gathered from the crime scene, the cleaner was subjected to further questioning and he broke down and confessed,” the CID Director-General, COP Ken Isaac Yeboah told reporters.