Prosecution first witness to testify as Abesim murder trial begins June 3

The Accra High Court is set to hear the first witness testimony on June 3 in the high-profile murder trial of Richard Appiah, the man accused of killing two young boys in Abesim, a town in Ghana’s Bono Region.

Appiah, a draughtsman by profession, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in a case that has gripped national attention since the gruesome discovery of body parts stored in a refrigerator at his residence in 2021.

At a session presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey, a Case Management Conference concluded on Wednesday, paving the way for the commencement of witness testimonies. The prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Nana Ama Adinkra, has indicated it will call eight witnesses to build its case.

During jury selection, Appiah personally objected to three potential jurors, citing a desire for “gender balance” in the panel of seven.

In their opening statement, prosecutors revealed that key pieces of evidence—including an autopsy report, charred clothing, photographs of the crime scene, and witness statements—would be presented to support the charge of murder.

The defence, however, maintains that the presence of the victims' remains in Appiah’s room is not sufficient to prove guilt. His lawyer argued that Appiah suffers from schizophrenia, a mental health condition that may have impaired his ability to fully comprehend the consequences of his alleged actions.

The trial judge cautioned the jurors to rely solely on courtroom evidence and to avoid any external influence or media commentary as they deliberate.

Appiah is accused of murdering Louis Agyeman and Stephen Sarpong, both minors, in what has been described as one of the most disturbing criminal cases in recent Ghanaian history. He has denied any involvement in the killings.