In a shocking revelation at the High Court in Accra, Pathologist Dr. Osei Owusu-Afriyie from the Ghana Police Hospital testified that 10-year-old Ishmael Mensah Abdullah, killed in Kasoa for alleged money rituals, was buried alive.

According to the pathologist, the victim died from a "severe head injury from blunt trauma," and the cause of death was "asphyxiation (inability to breathe)."

Witness Testimony in Kasoa Ritual Killing Trial Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dr. Osei Owusu-Afriyie, serving as the 7th Prosecution Witness in the trial, detailed the findings of his post-mortem examination on Ishmael Mensah Abdullah.

The witness revealed significant injuries, including a massive external swelling on the right side of the head, fractures in the right side's bones, bleeding, and swelling over the right side of the brain.

The pathologist emphasized that Ishmael was buried alive, as the "blueing" of the body and hyper-inflated lungs indicated he was not dead at the time of burial.

Two adolescents, a 15-year-old juvenile and an 18-year-old young offender, both unnamed, are facing charges in connection with the death of Abdullah, who is reported to be their acquaintance.

While the 15-year-old confessed to the offense during the plea-taking process, the court, following legal requirements, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, leaving the final decision to be determined by the jury during the full trial.

Conversely, the 18-year-old, jointly charged with the 15-year-old for conspiracy to commit murder, consistently denied the allegations.

Evidence-in-ChiefDuring his testimony led by Senior State Attorney Dorcas Felli, the witness asserted, “I concluded that he had a severe head injury from blunt trauma.”

“My lady, the significant findings are massive swollen on the right side of the neck and right side of the head with fracture of the bones on the right side of the head, with blood and swelling over the right side of the brain. My lady, there were also hyper-inflated lungs and ‘blueing’ of the body.

“My lady, I concluded that he had severe head injury from blunt trauma.

“The ‘blueing’ of the body and hyper-inflated lungs suggest that at the time of placing him or burying him, he was not dead.

“My lady that is the significant findings of my report,” the Pathologist told the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo.