Contradictory autopsy reports of a victim in an alleged case of police brutality at Adomfe in the Ashanti Region is subject for hearing at the Asokwa District Court in Kumasi.
Renowned pathologist, Professor Badu Agyemang Akosah, conducted the second autopsy with an outcome that suggests that the deceased, Kofi Ampomah died of unnatural cause contrary to an earlier report.
He has been answering questions in court at Tuesday’s hearing.
The Asokwa District Court on May 20, 2020, ordered for a second postmortem examination of the deceased’s body.
On October 16, 2019, 33-year-old Kofi Ampomah died after he was reportedly assaulted by some police personnel at Adomfe in the Asante Akyem South Municipality.
Report of an autopsy dated October 28, 2019, conducted by Dr Ernest Boakye of the Komfo Anokye Hospital concluded that Kofi Ampomah’s death was caused by sudden cardiac arrest and hypertension.
Family of the deceased rejected the autopsy report and pleaded in court for a second postmortem to be conducted by a private pathologist which the court granted.
Consultant Cellular Pathologist Professor Badu Agyemang Akosa came into the picture and decided to undertake the second autopsy report for the family free of charge.
His report puts the cause of death as multiple cutlass injuries on the deceased’s body.
Professor Badu Agyemang Akosa throws light on his findings of the second postmortem.
“The postmortem cannot be natural because the body itself had multiple cuts straight edged illustration and it could not come from a stone it could only come from a sharp edged instrument, so the body had been cut and had multiple bruises.”
Explaining further, he said, “Something happened to this person. If you say natural death then it means you just die of a sickness that’s known if you say unnatural, it means something or external circumstance has led to the death of this young man.
"We found that the liver was pale and had lost lots of blood and the kidney’s surface was smooth. If you have hypertension the kidney surface will be dotted so our findings were not a manifestation of hypertension as purported by the earlier report.”
“So for me, the kidney, liver and bruises confirm that the death was unnatural” Professor Badu Agyeman Akosa added.
Lawyer for the bereaved family Asamoah Amoako, is hopeful the results of the second reports would bring relief to the family and justice for Kofi Ampomah.
“With the report from the second autopsy, the family is hopeful that at least there will be justice for Kofi Ampomah and the entire family to ensure that the police officers who perpetrated the act will face the law.”
Professor Badu Agyemang Akosa will face pathologist of the first postmortem, Dr. Ernest Boakye, for cross-examination at the next hearing on August 12, 2020.
Latest Stories
-
All payments received from our contract with GRA are performance-based, says SML
15 mins -
Marrakech 2024: Ghana’s para-athlete Zinabu Issah wins Gold
17 mins -
Our contract with GRA followed due process; ignore contrary reports – SML
18 mins -
SML is just Agyapa in suit and tie – Bright Simons
53 mins -
Domelevo condemns selection of KPMG to audit GRA/SML contract as illegal and unprofessional
1 hour -
SML/GRA contract: OSP should have released its report by now – Inusah Fuseini
2 hours -
KPMG report exonerates us – SML
2 hours -
Works and Housing Ministry seeks lasting solutions to challenges with stakeholders engagement
2 hours -
President’s statement on GRA-SML contract underlines Fourth Estate’s revelation – MFWA
2 hours -
Our services are one of a kind, not done by NPA – SML insists
2 hours -
We operate legally and collaborate with world-class partners – SML
2 hours -
Director urges parents to protect children from abuse
3 hours -
Imani-Ghana criticises Akufo-Addo for not lauding Fourth Estate’s contribution to social development
3 hours -
Man remanded for allegedly stabbing businessman with broken bottle and screwdriver
3 hours -
Population in Kumasi Central Prison surges to 1800, threefold exceeding capacity
4 hours