A High Court in Accra has found former footballer Richard Appiah guilty of murdering two children in Abesim in the Bono Region, bringing to a close a case that shocked the nation.
The seven-member jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict against Appiah on two counts of murder, after hearing evidence detailing how the victims aged 12 and 15 were killed in August 2021.
According to prosecution accounts presented during the trial, the bodies of the teenagers were discovered at Appiah’s Abesim residence. One was found inside a locked room, and the other was discovered in a refrigerator on the premises a discovery that drew widespread public horror when it first surfaced.
Justice Ruby Aryeetey, who presided over the trial, sentenced Appiah to life imprisonment, reflecting the gravity of the crimes. The sentence was handed down after legal teams for both the prosecution and defence addressed the jury.
The victims were identified as Louis Agyemang Jr., aged 12, and Stephen Sarpong, aged 15. Prosecution witnesses described evidence showing severe violence inflicted on the boys, including strangulation and blood loss, leading to their deaths.
Throughout the proceedings, the defence attempted to argue that Appiah was suffering from mental health issues at the time of the killings. However, the jury rejected this claim and convicted him based on evidence indicating intentional actions and attempts to conceal the crime.
The conviction and sentencing have reignited public discussion about community safety, early intervention for at-risk individuals, and the judicial process in cases involving extreme violence against children.
Background: Appiah, a former player with Okumapem FC, had been held in custody since his arrest in 2021 and formally stood trial before the Accra High Court beginning in 2022.
