The High Court in Accra has fixed February 24, 2026, for a seven-member jury to decide the fate of Richard Appiah, who is standing trial for the alleged murder of two minors at Abesim near Sunyani.
This follows the close of the defence’s case after Appiah, 28, a draughtsman and footballer, testified in his own defence and called his father and a psychiatrist as witnesses.
Appiah is facing two counts of murder and has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution had earlier called six witnesses, including the parents of the victims, to establish its case.
After the close of the prosecution’s case and the conclusion of cross-examination, the court ruled that there was a case for the accused to answer.
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Appiah called a police psychiatrist who examined his mental health at the time of his arrest. His lawyers, led by Faustinus Yirilabuo, are advancing a defence of insanity, arguing that the accused was not mentally stable at the time of the alleged offences.
The prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Nana Ama Adinkra, began its case on May 26, 2025. It relied on several documents, including cautioned statements made by the accused in August and September 2021, autopsy reports on the victims, photographs of exhibits, and a charge statement dated November 10, 2022.
The victims were identified as Louis Agyemang, aged 12, and Stephen Sarpong, aged 15.
Trial judge Justice Ruby Aryeetey has directed both the prosecution and defence to file their closing written submissions simultaneously on February 20, 2026.
The case will be recalled on February 24, 2026, for oral addresses to the jury. The court will then sum up the trial, after which the jury will retire to deliberate and return its verdict, which will be binding on the court.
By Murtala Inusah
