The Criminal Court 1 of the High Court in Accra has sentenced Richard Appiah, the accused in the infamous Abesim murder case, to life imprisonment.
The sentence was handed down following a unanimous guilty verdict by a seven-member jury, which found the former footballer guilty of murdering two boys in Abesim, Bono Region, in August 2021.
Appiah, who previously played for Okumapem FC, was convicted of killing 12-year-old Louis Agyemang Jr. and 15-year-old Stephen Sarpong. The victims’ bodies were discovered in a locked room at his residence, one lying in the room and the other stored in a refrigerator.
A pathologist’s testimony revealed that one boy died from strangulation, while the other succumbed to severe blood loss.
During the trial, Appiah admitted to causing the deaths but pleaded insanity, with his defence counsel arguing that he was suffering from schizophrenia at the time and did not understand the nature or wrongfulness of his actions.
The court was informed that Appiah had undergone psychiatric evaluation, was initially declared unfit to stand trial, but was later deemed fit to proceed.
Prosecutors, however, argued that he acted with intent and full awareness. They pointed to evidence showing that he concealed the bodies, attempted to destroy evidence, and even participated in community search efforts for the missing boys in an apparent bid to deflect suspicion.
The prosecution presented five witnesses, while Appiah testified in his own defence and called one additional witness, his father.
After addresses from both the prosecution and defence counsel on Monday, February 23, 2026, Justice Ruby Aryeetey, who presided over the case, summed up the evidence before the jury retired to deliberate.
The guilty verdict was delivered, leading to the life imprisonment sentence on Tuesday.
The case, which shocked the nation when it broke in 2021, has now concluded with the conviction and sentencing of the accused.