GENERAL NEWS
Policeman shoots man to death over cost for hailing-ride service while on off-duty
Constable Smith Gyekyi, a 25-year-old policeman, has been charged with murder after reportedly shooting a man at Koans Estate at Kuntunse Satellite in the Greater Accra Region, over a ride-hailing fare disagreement.
Stanley Ahadzi, also 25-year-old, died instantly at the incident scene where the police found him lying in a pool of blood.
Chief Inspector Achana Apewah, the prosecutor, pleaded with the Adabraka District Court, presided over by Ama Adomako Kwakye, to remand the accused to aid further investigations.
The plea was granted, as the accused was remanded and is to re-appear on September 9, 2024, graphic.com.gh has reported.
The report added that according to the prosecutor, Constable Smith Gyekyi was off-duty when he engaged in a ride-hailing operation.
He added that the police control room received a report about a male adult who had been shot and killed at Koans Estate at Satellite.
The report continued that Chief Inspector Apewah informed the court that upon receiving this report, DSP Adamu Muniru, the crime officer at Adjen Kotoku; and ASP Agnes Aboagye, the night monitoring officer, visited the scene with investigator Inspector Leticia Asiedu.
At the scene, the team discovered the 25-year-old man lying in a pool of blood.
The prosecutor also said that the constable was operating as a commercial driver with a Toyota Matiz private car, with registration number GW 6459-21.
Esther Owusua, a witness in the case, was picked up by the accused around 3 am on the day of the crime from Ablekuma Joma to Koans Estate area at Kuntunse Satellite.
According to the prosecution, Owusua lost the way to her destination and called Stanley Ahadzi, the deceased on the phone to meet them at Koans Estate gate.
Chief Inspector Achana Apewah said, “The deceased arrived but there was disagreement with the fare charged. In the course of the argument, the accused got annoyed and pulled his sidearm, gave a warning shot, and later shot the deceased to death,” the report added.
Constable Gyekyi was arrested and detained after he turned himself in at the Amasaman Divisional Police Station.
H confessed to committing the crime in the process of investigation and was subsequently charged and arraigned before the court.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
