The jury in the trial of Richard Appiah, a former footballer accused of killing two teenagers in Abesim in the Bono Region and keeping the remains of one victim in a refrigerator, has returned a unanimous verdict of guilty of murder.

Richard Appiah is alleged to have murdered his stepbrother and two other children, aged between 12 and 15 years.

In 2021, Appiah was committed to stand trial at the High Court over the deaths of the two minors.

He later appeared before the High Court in Accra on August 16, 2023, after the Attorney General recommended that he be charged with the murders of Louis Agyeman and Stephen Sarpong.

Appiah, who initially showed signs of mental instability and underwent medical treatment, was subsequently declared fit to stand trial.

The prosecution, led by State Attorney Nana Ama Adinkra, said it would call six witnesses to establish its case. The State tendered autopsy reports, partially burnt clothing and slippers believed to belong to the victims, as well as photographs and other exhibits.

Defence counsel T.K. Dzimega, who is handling the case pro bono, indicated that the accused would call two witnesses from Abesim.

According to the prosecution, the offences occurred in 2021 at Abesim. During investigations, police recovered additional remains from a farm.

The victims have since been buried.