A Kaneshie District Court has remanded into lawful custody the police officer accused of shooting a driver to death over transportation fare at Kuntunse Satellite, near Amasaman in Accra.
General Constable Smith Gyekyi, who is facing murder charges, did not have legal representation during his initial court appearance.
The court, presided over by Ms Ama Adomako Kwakye, did not take the plea of the 25-year-old police officer from the International Relations Unit of the Ghana Police Service, pending further investigation into the matter.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Apewah Achana, requested the court to remand Gyekyi since investigations are ongoing.
The matter has been adjourned to September 9, 2024.
The facts as given in court are that on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at around 0400 hours, information was received from the police control room that a male adult had been shot dead at the frontage of Koans Estate in Satellite Kuntunse, near Amasaman.
According to the prosecution, Deputy Superintendent of Police Adamu Muniru, Adjen Kotoku Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Agnes Aboagye, the Night Monitoring Officer, and case investigator Inspector Leticia Asiedu arrived at the scene and discovered a 25-year-old male adult named Stanley Ahadzi lying down dead in a supine position with blood oozing from his head.
The court heard that Gyekyi, who was using his private car with registration number GW 5459-21 for commercial purposes, picked up Esther Owusua from Ablekuma Joma to Koans Estate Kuntunse Satellite around 0300 hours on the same day.
The prosecution told the court that while on their route, Owusua, a witness in the case, got lost and contacted Ahadzi (deceased), who agreed to meet them at the Koans Estate gate.
When Ahazdi arrived at the Koans Estate gate, a quarrel ensued between him and Gyekyi about the fare charged.
“In the course of the argument, Gyekyi got annoyed and pulled his sidearm, gave a warning shot and later shot Ahadzi to death,” the prosecution told the court.
Gyekyi then reported himself to the Amasaman Divisional Police and was detained.
The court heard that Gyekyi admitted the offence during investigations.