A 27-year-old man, Abdul Halik Hamza has been sentenced to death by hanging by a Tamale high court two (2) presided over by Mr Justice Charles Gyemfi. The court reached the verdict after a four-year trial which started at the Tamale district magistrate court in 2013.
According to the facts of the case, the condemned man on 14 July, 2013 at a popular food joint called Charlotte fast food at Nyohini in the Tamale metropolis saw his friend Arafat Fuseini engaged in a free-for all fight with Issah Hassan who is now deceased at about 8 p.m. and decided to intervene. When questioned by the deceased why he was interfering in the matter, Hamza according to police, got very upset despite being told by the deceased to calm down.
Hamza reportedly hit Hassan with a plank of wood rendering him unconscious. He was rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital where he died moments later.
Realizing what he had just done, Hamza is said to have taken to his heels but was chased by-standers and eye witnesses and apprehended. He was handed over to the Police military patrol team together with the exhibits.
Speaking to Zaa News after the judgment, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh said Hamza was charged with murder after investigations.
ASP Tetteh said Hamza pleaded not guilty to the charges. A seven-member jury however returned a unanimous verdict of guilty. The death sentence ASP Tetteh explained is likely to be converted to life imprisonment because for the past 20 years the death sentence has not been carried out. ASP Tetteh cautioned residents, especially trouble makers that the law will catch up with them no matter the cloth they are wearing.
