ROMEO CATHOLIC Priest Rev. Father Charles Asamoah who stands accused of hacking his lover over a trivial disagreement on infidelity has been granted bail by an Obuasi Circuit Court, after making his third appearance in court.Father Asamoah is said to have inflicted multiple knife wounds on 42-year-old Janet Dwamena Agyapomaa, aka Yaa Kwahu, after their secret amorous affair turned sour and now faces the criminal charge of attempted murder in addition to two counts of unlawful harm and threat of death.
The court, presided over by Gilbert Ayisi Addo, did not take the accused priest’s plea but granted him bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with one surety to be justified. Rev. Asamoah will come back to court on August 5.
Silence at the court's public gallery was deafening, contrary to the jeering which greeted the judge’s ruling on bail at the second court appearance.
As usual, the Obuasi Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr. Osei-Nyarko, and other church members were present to give morale support to Fr. Charles Asamoah, who came with his counsel, Franklin Asamoah.
At his first appearance, the priest said he acted in self-defence when a fight ensued between him and the victim and intentionally caused harm to his lover.
On April 20 this year, Yaa Kwahu, the victim, who lives at Obuasi Pomposo, was rushed to AngloGold Ashanti Hospital (AGA) in Obuasi from St. Louis Health Centre in Bodwesango in the Adansi North District, after the accused allegedly attacked her with a knife and blunt objects, including a mallet and club.
According to Dr. James Asenso-Barnie’s report, the victim, who was bleeding profusely from the scalp as a result of the assault, had sustained 10 lacerations on the head with a punctured wound on the forehead and bruises all over her body, when she was brought to the hospital.
Police prosecutor ASP Seth Sewornu, told the court that the victim is an operator of a drinking bar while the accused is a Catholic Priest at Bodwesango.
According to him, the two were in a sexual relationship for about two months when on April 20, 2010, the victim asked a witness in the case to accompany her to the lover priest.
He stated that the victim and the witness passed the night in the accused person’s house, during which the two loved birds slept in one room as the witness was given another.
Prosecution indicated that the witness left the house the following day, “leaving the two lovers to enjoy their uninterrupted sanctimonious honeymoon.”
ASP Sewornu added that the honeymoon later turned sour and both parties agreed to end the relationship with GH¢500 as agreed compensation to the victim, which the accused duly paid.
According to him, no sooner had the compensation been paid than a misunderstanding ensued between them, leading to physical exchanges. Fr. Charles then used a mallet and a knife to inflict multiple and serious injuries all over the victim’s body, especially on the head.
The accused, at a point, asked a witness if the victim was dead, and Yaa Kwahu, who was in a pool of blood, overheard the accused.
Alarmed, Yaa Kwahu gathered some strength and run for cover by scaling a wall but the accused chased and caught up with her, after which he hit her with a stick from all angles, amidst threats to kill her for hinting that she would expose his amorous life to authorities.
ASP Sewornu intimated that the accused, in the process, collected the GH¢500 compensation, as well as the victim’s mobile phone.
He also indicated that the action of the accused person was carefully planned and executed to ultimately end the life of the victim at all cost without mercy.
Yaa Kwahu, prosecution said, was rescued by a Good Samaritan, who intervened and rushed her to St. Louis Health Centre at Bodwesango, who in turn referred her to AGA hospital, where she spent over one month on admission.
Rev. Asamoah was later arrested and he admitted the offences in his cautioned statement to the police, after which he was charged and arraigned following police investigations.
SIC: PFMO