Retired officer and pastor jailed over GH¢50 dispute killing

An Accra High Court has convicted a retired military officer and a pastor of manslaughter following the death of a taxi driver after a dispute over a GH¢50 note.

Joseph Abusah and Benjamin Kofi Agbetiafah were found guilty by a seven-member jury, bringing to a close a case that has been before the courts for nearly nine years.

The jury returned a split decision on conspiracy, with five members voting to convict and two dissenting. On the charge of manslaughter, however, the verdict was unanimous.

Both men were sentenced to six months in prison on each count, with the terms to run concurrently.

The trial was presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge.

The case dates back to March 2018, when the victim, 32-year-old Solomon Dapaah, stopped at a provisions shop in New Abladjei, a suburb of Accra.

He bought a drink and paid with a GH¢50 note. After he had left, the shop operator suspected the note was counterfeit and raised an alarm.

The two men pursued the taxi in a pick-up vehicle and intercepted it on the outskirts of the area.

According to the prosecution, a passenger in the taxi escaped, but Mr Dapaah became entangled in a barbed wire fence while trying to flee.

The court heard that the two men pulled him out and assaulted him. He later lost consciousness.

They then tied his hands and feet and transported him to the Agbogba Police Station to make a complaint.

Police officers, noticing his condition, took him to a nearby clinic, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem examination later concluded that he died from severe head injuries consistent with mob violence.

During mitigation, defence lawyers told the court the men had complied fully with bail conditions and had attended proceedings throughout the lengthy trial.

They also pointed to their status as first-time offenders and their personal circumstances, including family responsibilities.

But prosecutors urged the court to consider the seriousness of the offence and the wider impact on society.

They argued that the sentence should serve as a deterrent and reflect the consequences of taking the law into one’s own hands.

In delivering the sentence, the judge said the court had weighed both the mitigating and aggravating factors.

She noted the time already spent in custody, the conduct of the accused during the trial, and the prolonged duration of the case.

At the same time, she strongly criticised acts of mob justice, warning that such behaviour undermines the rule of law.

The case has drawn attention to concerns about vigilantism and the dangers of “instant justice” in communities.