Richard Appiah has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court in Accra after a seven-member jury unanimously found him guilty on two counts of murder in the Abesim killings.
The court delivered the sentence following the jury’s verdict against the footballer who was accused of murdering two children aged 12 and 15 in Abesim in the Bono Region in 2021.
The trial, which began in 2024, was presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey at the High Court in Accra. Committal proceedings in the case had earlier commenced at a District Court in 2021.
The seven-member jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict against Richard Appiah on both counts of murder. Under Ghana’s criminal law, a conviction for murder requires proof that the accused caused unlawful harm to the deceased, that the harm led to death, and that the act was committed with intent.
In its case, the prosecution argued that all elements of the offense had been established beyond reasonable doubt.
Defence argues mental disorder
Counsel for Richard Appiah, Faustinus Yirilabuo, urged the jury to return a verdict of guilty but insane. He admitted that his client committed the act but argued that Richard Appiah did not understand the nature and consequences of his actions at the time due to a mental disorder.
The defense told the court that prior to the murders, Richard Appiah had exhibited unusual behavior and suffered from schizophrenia. Counsel further argued that at the time of the offense, his client was hallucinating and believed he was being instructed by a spirit to commit the crime or risk death.
However, the prosecution, led by Assistant State Attorney Nana Ama Adinkra, rejected the insanity defense. The prosecution maintained that Richard Appiah was lucid and fully aware of his actions when the crime was committed.
On the issue of intent, the prosecution told the court that Richard Appiah attempted to conceal evidence after the murders, including disposing of parts of the victims’ bodies and hiding items that could link him to the crime. According to the prosecution, these actions demonstrated that he understood the consequences of his conduct.
Following the unanimous guilty verdict, the High Court sentenced Richard Appiah to life imprisonment.
