A seven-member jury has unanimously found the two teenagers, charged for the 2021 murder of a 10-year-old boy at Kasoa for money ritual, guilty.
The two, who are 18 and 15 years respectively, have been found guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, and the substantive charge of murder.
Consequently, the High Court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, has sentenced the 18-year-old, Nicholas Kini, to life in prison.
Sentencing of the 15-year-old has, however been deferred to the juvenile court in line with section 18(1), Juvenile Justice Act 2003 Act (ACT 653).
In the meantime, the 15-year-old, will be kept in police custody until the juvenile court sentences him.
The prosecution, led by Nana Adoma Osei had urged the jury to return a guilt verdict against the accused persons, while the defence lawyers, Samuel Atuah and Lawrence Boampong, holding the brief of Martin Kpebu prayed the jury to return a not guilty verdict in favour of their clients.
In his immediate remarks after the sentence was handed over to him by the court, Kini pleaded with court and family of the deceased, to the ghost of the deceased, adding, “Because he is the only person that can say the truth.”
Meanwhile, before sentencing the convict, Justice Marfo, who relied on a quote from former First Lady of the United States said “Nothing but parental neglect has brought us this far, and if we don’t take care the very foundation of this nation would be destroyed”.
Ishmael, a pupil of Marantha Preparatory school was killed by his confidants in April 2021 after they lured him into an uncompleted building in their vicinity.
The trial started officially in March 2023 at the High Court.
