A seven-person jury has found Bismark Ato Foster, a former competitor of the reality television program “Mentor,” guilty of manslaughter in a case that lasted seven years.
The allegations against him included murder and the use of an aggressive weapon, which led to Razak Mohammed’s passing on September 26, 2016, at Nungua Coco-Beach.
Foster entered a not guilty plea to both counts, but the jury found him guilty of manslaughter rather than murder.
After additional deliberation, the jury found Foster guilty of manslaughter and the use of an offensive weapon despite originally finding Foster guilty of both crimes on a 6-1 vote.
Judge “3” of the Criminal Court is in charge of the case. Foster was given a life sentence by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, as the jury had recommended.
He was also given a 25-year term for using an offensive weapon; both sentences must be served consecutively.
Foster’s defense attorney requested mitigation throughout the trial and pleaded for the judge’s leniency because his client was a first-time offender.
Foster’s appropriate behavior during the trial and his dependable presence whenever the case was called were both emphasized by the defense.
They stressed Foster’s youth, his bright future, and his status as an unfortunate bystander. The defense maintained that the deceased’s death was an accident, and they asked the judge to consider a light sentence.
The prosecution, on the other hand, objected to the mitigating argument, arguing that the crime was severe enough to warrant the worst penalty possible—life in prison—as a deterrence to future offenders. They emphasized the fact that the pistol had discharged twice, indicating intention.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzu sentenced Foster to life in prison.
The attorneys for Mr. Foster have stated that they want to challenge the verdict and following sentence.
The case’s basic facts showed that Ebenezer Ekow Ayaim, the complainant, had purchased two property plots in Nungua Coco Beach.
Ayaim was aware of Foster as someone who periodically entered his unfinished project without authorization.
An officer suggested Foster and the recently departed Razak to provide sand and stones for the construction of a fence wall on the property in response to Ayaim’s complaints to the police.
During a land inspection on September 26, 2016, a horrible tragedy happened. Razak and Foster remained outside as Ayaim briefly went inside his home. After hearing a gunshot, Ayaim saw Stephen Ansah, a coworker of Foster’s, bleeding from the arm, and Razak’s dead corpse. Ansah was taken to the hospital in a hurry after calling the police, but Razak was already dead when they got there.
The complainant, the building contractor, and a police officer were among the witnesses who gave testimony in support of the incidents that led to the terrible shooting.
Investigation chief Detective Chief Inspector Osei Yeboah added further proof and authorized Foster’s detention.
Foster was recently found guilty and sentenced after the Office of the Attorney General recommended the accusations of murder and the use of an offensive weapon against him.