The High Court in Accra has sentenced Richard Appiah to life imprisonment after a jury unanimously found him guilty of murdering two children in Abesim in the Bono Region.
The verdict was delivered by a seven-member jury, which convicted Appiah on two counts of murder. The case, which dates back to 2021, sent shockwaves through the Abesim community and attracted nationwide attention.
Appiah, who was 28 at the time of the offences, had been standing trial since 2022 before Justice Ruby Aryeetey.
The case came to light in August 2021 when police in Abesim, near Sunyani, arrested Appiah following the discovery of the bodies of two boys in his residence. The gruesome find sparked widespread outrage across the country.
The victims were later identified as 12-year-old Louis Agyemang, believed to be Appiah’s stepbrother, and 15-year-old Stephen Sarpong, the son of a family friend.
At the time of his arrest, Appiah was variously described in media reports as a footballer, sports commentator, and draughtsman. However, the Ghana Institute of Architects clarified that he was not a registered architect, contrary to some earlier claims.
During investigations, reports indicated that Appiah exhibited unusual behaviour while in custody, prompting authorities to request a psychiatric evaluation as part of the investigative process.
The trial experienced several procedural delays, including adjournments due to the absence of jurors. Despite these setbacks, the prosecution presented evidence linking Appiah to the killings.
After hearing the case, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on both counts of murder. In sentencing, the High Court imposed life imprisonment, underscoring the gravity of the offences.
Justice Aryeetey, who presided over the proceedings, described the case as deeply disturbing, with the judgment bringing closure to a matter that had raised significant concerns about community safety and justice.
