By Beatrice Oppon & Priscilla Owusu Ansah
The High Court in Accra has sentenced a taxi driver, Paul Evename, to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend, Jennifer Attieku, on November 12, 2015, at Madina in Accra.
The deceased was a third-year Banking and Finance student at the University of Professional Studies, UPSA, before her murder.
The jury unanimously found Paul guilty of murder after almost nine years of the crime.
The convict pleaded with his family and that of his deceased girlfriend to forgive him for his actions.
Prior to the sentencing, the prosecution and the defence addressed the jurors, after which the court gave a summary of the evidence adduced.
Paul, a taxi driver, and the late Jennifer were in a relationship for about five years. They encountered some misunderstanding, which led to her blacklisting the convict’s telephone number.
The convict approached the deceased on the night of November 10, 2015, over her avoidance of him. The deceased girlfriend’s decision to end the relationship infuriated the convict, who threatened to end her life within three days.
The deceased informed her brother of the threat and they both lodged a complaint with the police. The convict traced them to the police station, where he was arrested and detained till the following day. At about 7:30am on November 12, 2015, Paul procured a new kitchen knife and went to the deceased’s hostel.
The deceased was reluctant to open her door for him until the convict convinced her that he was with one Hajia.
The late Jennifer came out of the room only to be attacked with the knife. The convict stabbed her on the right side of her throat, left side of her breast, and on the head, killing her instantly.
Paul then attempted suicide by stabbing himself in the abdomen twice.