The Accra High Court has sentenced a mother of two, Lydia Aboagye, to life imprisonment after finding her guilty of murdering her husband during a domestic dispute at Omanjor in the Greater Accra Region.
The conviction followed a full murder trial, with a seven-member jury returning a 5-2 majority guilty verdict, which satisfies the legal requirement under Section 46 of the Criminal Offences Act (Act 29), as amended by the Criminal and Other Offences (Amendment) Act, 2023 (Act 1101).
Court Convicts Woman of Murder
Lydia Aboagye was prosecuted for the murder of her husband, Kweku Gyasi, with whom she shared two children. The incident occurred in November 2021 following a misunderstanding between the couple.
The prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Christabel Selma Anafure, presented three witnesses during the trial. The accused, represented by Rita Kunkuti Ali, testified in her own defence and called her mother as her only witness.
After considering the evidence, Justice Marie-Louise Simmons accepted the jury’s majority verdict and formally convicted the accused of murder.
The jury reached its decision after 39 minutes of deliberation, following the judge’s final directions on July 30, 2026, just before the legal vacation.
Life Sentence Imposed
Before sentencing, the court gave Lydia Aboagye an opportunity to address the court, but she responded, “I have nothing to say.”
Justice Simmons subsequently sentenced her to life imprisonment, stating that the conviction was based on the jury’s lawful majority verdict under the amended Criminal Offences Act.
The court also informed the convict and her legal counsel that they have one month from July 30, 2026, to file an appeal before the Court of Appeal.
Facts of the Omanjor Murder Case
According to the prosecution, the complainant, a driver’s mate and landlord, owns a property at Omanjor-Dwenewoho, near California School, where the accused and her family rented a single room.
Lydia Aboagye lived with her husband, Kweku Gyasi, and their two children.
On November 3, 2021, at about 4:30 a.m., an argument broke out between the couple. During the confrontation, the prosecution said Lydia allegedly picked up a broken Coca-Cola bottle and stabbed her husband in the left side of his ribs.
Investigators told the court that after the stabbing, she allegedly locked the injured man inside the room while he was bleeding and later disposed of the broken bottle in nearby bushes about 150 metres from the house.
Victim Found in Pool of Blood
About an hour later, the landlord, who had just completed Fajr prayers, was alerted by his daughter after she heard unusual noises while sweeping the compound.
When he arrived at the room, he found the door locked. After forcing it open, he discovered Kweku Gyasi lying in a pool of blood.
Neighbours assisted in rushing the victim to the Ga West Municipal Hospital (Amasaman Government Hospital), where medical personnel pronounced him dead on arrival.
His body was later transferred to the Police Hospital mortuary for preservation and an autopsy.
Arrest and Police Investigation
The prosecution said Lydia Aboagye later returned to the house and allegedly attempted to clean the bloodstains from the floor.
Suspicious neighbours reportedly arrested her at the scene and handed her over to the Ghana Police Service for investigation, leading to her prosecution and eventual conviction.
The case highlights the serious legal consequences of domestic violence, murder, and violent crime in Ghana, while reinforcing the justice system’s commitment to prosecuting serious criminal offences.
Source: newsthemegh.com