Abesim killing: teenager recounts how he nearly fell, victim

An 18-year-old teenager, Noah Nyame, has narrated how he nearly fell victim to the suspect in the Abesim murder, Richard Appiah.

He said he was on three occasions requested by the suspect to accompany him to his cocoa farm, where police have discovered the buried intestines suspected to be that of the victims in the murder.

On two out of the three occasions, Noah said the suspect escorted him to his cocoa farm but the latter’s strange behaviour put him on alert.

“At the cocoa farm, whilst I was harvesting the cocoa fruits, I noticed that bro Richard was standing behind me with a cutlass and was acting strangely. This made me suspect that he wanted to do something strange, so I became alert”, the teenager disclosed.

Noah said on Friday that Appiah murdered his stepbrother I was to be the victim because I had an appointment to accompany him to his cocoa farm to harvest and even promised me a job but the early morning rains derailed the plan.

Had it not been the rains, I would have been a victim too, he added, stating that “I am so depressed but very grateful to God for saving me from this wicked man”.

The lucky teenager disclosed these to a Soiree News team that visited the family houses of the murder victims. Tomorrow, August 28 will mark exactly one week since the incident happened.

Tomorrow will also be exactly one week since 28-year-old Richard Appiah was arrested by the Police Sunyani for the alleged murder of three children and keeping their dismembered bodies in a fridge.

Officials of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the Police headquarters investigating the murder case, have discovered a place where Appiah allegedly buried the intestines of one of his victims.

The intestines were buried on a cocoa farm at Abesim and the Police have since exhumed them for pathological analysis and forensic examination.

The Police in a statement indicated that two sharp cutlasses with bloodstains allegedly used by the suspect to commit the crime were also retrieved from the scene.

In furtherance of a directive by the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, the Counseling Department of the Service has provided trauma-reduction therapy, counselling and other psychological support to the affected families.

ACP Phyllis Osei, Director, Police Counseling Unit, and ASP Foster Nanewortor arrived in Sunyani on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, and visited the family of Louis Agyemang, one of the victims to hold a counselling session with them.

“This was held with all family members and neighbours who were present. Private counselling sessions were later held with parents, siblings and some key immediate family members who were adversely impacted by the murder.”

“The team later proceeded to visit the family of the second victim, Stephen Boateng, at Abesim Alaska Junction, and a counselling session was also held with the family.

“The police administration has assured the public, especially the affected families and the people of Abesim of a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice,” it assured.

Background

Shocking details emerging after the arrest indicated that Appiah was keeping human parts in a fridge.

Acting on a report the police found one of the deceased cut to pieces and kept in a fridge, whilst two other deceased persons were found in another room in the house. Two of the deceased have been identified as 12-year-old Louis Agyemang Junior and Stephen Sarpong, aged 15.

The discoveries were made on Friday evening, a little after 11:00 pm.

The stepfather of one of the victims had reported that Appiah had taken his son to his house, but had not returned and later caused a citizen’s arrest of the suspect with the assistance of four brothers, according to a police report.

Meanwhile, the suspect has been charged for murder on two counts at a Kaneshie Magistrate Court in Accra and has been remanded into prison custody pending an appearance on September 5.

Nana Ama A siedu,Bono Region