Confession unravels staged robbery, murder

Three individuals, including a woman, have had their death sentences confirmed by the Supreme Court for orchestrating the murder of a husband at Pokuase, Accra, on June 15, 2013. Initially, the incident appeared to be a botched armed robbery, but the true nature of the crime unraveled when police, during an unrelated investigation, apprehended accomplices with incriminating information.

Salamatu Karim, the mastermind, recruited Awudu Alhassan Sulemana, known as Dozer, and Mohammed Sulemana, known as Banana, to commit the crime. In exchange for a future payment, Salamatu facilitated their entry into the house, provided the weapon, and ensured her husband was identified to the criminals. The prosecution argued that Salamatu, who was Dozer's sister, orchestrated the staged robbery and concealed the crime afterward.

All three were found guilty in a five-year trial, and their convictions were upheld by the Court of Appeal before reaching the Supreme Court. The Court dismissed their appeals, citing the admissibility of the confession statements, the balanced summing-up to the jury, and the thorough explanation of the elements of murder, conspiracy, and abetment.