Prime suspect in murder of 24-year-old-lady in Koforidua commits suicide

The prime suspect of a gang of assailants who murdered a 24-year-old woman in Koforidua in 2019 has committed suicide.

The suspect Kofi Tiatia, believed to be 36 years, was found hanging on a tree Wednesday, June 9 at Nsukwao, a suburb of New Juaben South.

His body has been retrieved and deposited at the Morgue by Police.

Kofi Tiatia was wanted by Police in connection with the murder of Afia Adusei Opokua, 24, which occurred on July 9, 2019.

Two accomplices Francis Torgbuiga, 36, and Iddi Mohammed alias Colombia were arrested by Police on July 14,2019, and later the third suspect was also arrested but the main suspect Kofi Tiatia sneaked out of the country to hide in Togo.

He returned to Koforidua after years of hiding a few days ago but was found hanging on a rope Wednesday morning.

Some of the ghetto boys who sleep with him on the streets of Nsukwao told Starr News that he was troubled.

Background

24-year-old Rita Afia Adusei Opokua was murdered by unknown assailants in a bush behind the SDA Education Unit Office along the Kasadjan road in the New Juaben North Municipality of the Eastern Region.

The body of the deceased was retrieved the following day by Police and deposited at the St. Joseph Hospital Morgue.

Information gathered by Starr News indicates the deceased left the house to the shop to sell on July 9, 2019 at 7:00 am but did not return. Several efforts to trace her whereabouts were not successful.

However, her body was found lying dead in a nearby bush behind SDA Educational Unit Office near Abrewa- Nkwanta the following morning.

Sister to the deceased Lydia Bosompem reported the incident to the Police and crime scene investigators from the Effiduase District Police Command were dispatched to the scene.

According to the Police report, the deceased was “found lying dead in a supine position wearing black underwear halfway below the waist and her long dress pulled on her stomach. Spot investigations show signs of struggle suggesting deceased struggled with her assailants before she was overpowered and dragged into the bush”.

The Police Investigators explained further that Inspections on the body revealed bruises on the cheek and blood oozing from the left ear. Other visible marks of assault were seen around the back, right ankle, buttocks, and both thighs. The body was photographed and later conveyed to St. Joseph Hospital mortuary for autopsy.

Arrest

On July 14, 2019, Police intelligence unravelled that one of the suspects Francis Torgbuiga was in possession of a Techno Mobile phone owned by the deceased and immediately arrested him, upon which he admitted being part of the gang that murdered her.

Upon further interrogation, he mentioned a second suspect, ‘Colombia’, and two others whose names he did not know as part of the assailants.

Police proceeded to arrest the second suspect at his hideout which led to the arrest of the others

They are standing trial at the court.