The High Court in Accra has sentenced Richard Appiah, the footballer and draughtsman convicted of murdering two children in Abesim in the Bono Region, to life imprisonment.

The sentence follows a unanimous guilty verdict by a seven-member jury on two counts of murder. The victims, aged 12 and 15, were killed in 2021 in a case that shocked the community and drew national attention.

Appiah, who was 28 at the time of the crime, had been standing trial since 2022 before the court presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey.

Gruesome discovery and investigation

The case first came to light in August 2021, when police in Abesim, near Sunyani, arrested Appiah after discovering the bodies of two boys in his home. Some body parts were found in a refrigerator in his living quarters, prompting widespread horror and condemnation.

Police reports indicated that Appiah had allegedly murdered at least two boys, identified in earlier reports as Louis Agyemang (12) — believed to be a stepbrother — and Stephen Sarpong (15) — a family friend’s son.

At the time of his arrest, he was described by some media outlets as a footballer and sports commentator, and various professions were attributed to him, though the Ghana Institute of Architects clarified that he was not a registered architect, contrary to initial reports.

During his time in custody, reports emerged that Appiah insisted on specific foods and exhibited unusual behaviour, prompting police to seek a psychiatric evaluation as part of the investigation.

Read Also: Abesim Murder: Footballer to stand trial at High Court

Court proceedings

The trial encountered procedural delays, including adjournments due to issues such as the absence of jurors.

Despite these challenges, the prosecution presented evidence linking Appiah to the killings. After hearing the case, the seven-member jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on two counts of murder. On sentencing, the High Court imposed life imprisonment, reflecting the severity of the offence.

Justice Aryeetey oversaw the proceedings, which highlighted not only the brutality of the crimes but also the persistent concerns about community safety and the need for robust investigative and judicial processes.