Ebenezer Owusu, the police constable who shot and killed a 28-year-old man and wounded a police officer at the Ho Regional Residency in the Volta Region in 2008, has finally been committed to stand trial at the Fast Track High Court, Accra.
The accused, who was on duty at the residency, killed Daniel Dzikunu Agbale who had gone to visit Kofi Dzamesi the Volta Regional Minister, during the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, and wounded Superintendent Theophilus Tetteh Nartey, who died later at the Volta Regional Hospital.
He is facing two counts of manslaughter and murder contrary to Section 50 of the Criminal Offence Act. 1960 (Act 29) and Section 46 of the Criminal Offence Act 1960 (Act 29).
The facts of the case, as presented by the Chief State Attorney, Mr. Anthony Rexford Wiredu, were that on June 2, 2008, at about 9:00 p.m. Dzikunu Agbale (deceased) went to the residence of the former Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Dzamesi, to see him but was told by Constable John Ofori Ankomah, one of the guards on duty at the main entrance that he (Minister) had travelled.
The deceased, who was a regular visitor to the minister, did not believe Constable Ankomah and managed to force his way into the residency.
The accused (Ebenezer Owusu) later returned from town and went to the bungalow of Superintendent Nartey and informed him of the misconduct of the deceased who was described as an “intruder”.
Both Supt. Nartey and Owusu went back to the residency and found Dzikunu Agbale in the minister’s apartment and a scuffle ensued between them.
Owusu fired at the deceased but missed and hit Supt. Nartey instead.
Realising he had missed the “target”, Owusu fired at him again and killed him instantly, while Supt. Nartey was rushed to the Volta Regional Hospital for treatment but also died later.
The Judge, Mr. Justice M. H. Logoh, adjourned the case to March 4, for hearing to commence.