The late Rev Sidney Thomas Barnes
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18th November, 2010
Missionary Died Of Multiple Stab Wounds - Autopsy Report
Reverend Sidney Thomas Barnes, the British/American missionary, who was allegedly murdered in March, this year, died of multiple stab injuries, haemorrhage and lacerations, an autopsy report has revealed.
A source close to the prosecution told the Times after court sittings yesterday that the police has finally received the autopsy report on the body issued by the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on October 13.
The police on November 2, told the Accra Magistrate Court, that it was yet to receive the autopsy report on the body of the missionary to enable it to prepare a bill of indictment for the committal of the three persons being held in connection with the case.
The three, Kofi Seidu, a driver, Goodwill Padmore, a pastor and Issaka Mohammed, a mason, are facing charges of conspiracy to murder and murder and their plea has not been taken.
As a result of the prosecution’s submission, the case was adjourned to Tuesday November 16, which was declared a public holiday.
But when the court resumed sitting yesterday, the magistrate, Mr. Samuel Kofi Ahiabor, adjourned the case to December 1.
The prosecution’s case is that the deceased, Rev Barnes, 75, arrived in the country in 1995.
The prosecutor said Seidu was also a farm manager of the deceased, while Padmore was the Principal of Prestige Secretarial and Business Academy in Koforidua while Mohammed is a resident of Adoagyiri in Nsawam.
ASP Abadamlora said the deceased established a Christian ministry, known as Cross Road Christian Missionary Incorporated, in Koforidua.
The prosecutor said beside the missionary work, the deceased also had a farm at Akwamu, near Nsawam, which was managed by Seidu while his private secretarial institution was handled by Padmore.
On December 27, 2009, ASP Abadamlora said, the deceased went to the USA and he was to return to Ghana on March 18, this year.
On March 17, Padmore gave Seidu some money to repair the vehicle of the deceased so that they could use it to convey him from the Airport to Koforidua the following day.
ASP Abadamlora said on March 18, Seidu after collecting GH˘50 for fuel left early in the morning saying he wanted to "do some rounds" before picking up the deceased in the evening.
At about 23:30 hours, ASP Abadamlora said, Seidu called Padmore on phone saying that the deceased had not arrived so he had driven the vehicle to Nsawam Adoagyiri.
The prosecutor said on March 19, a witness in the case detected that Seidu had sustained some injuries on both hands and when he was quizzed, he told the witness that he and a white friend were involved in an accident in Koforidua.
He said that the said white friend was receiving treatment at the Saint Joseph's Hospital in Koforidua.
The prosecutor said Seidu also went to a chemical shop for a tetanus injection and was asked to purchase the drugs but he did not return.
ASP Abadamlora said Seidu also presented a laptop to a witness in the case and when it was switched on, the name of the deceased appeared on the screen.
The prosecutor said the bag of the deceased was found in the vehicle driven by the accused.
ASP Abadamlora said following a report lodged with INTERPOL on the disappearance of the deceased, Seidu was arrested and handed over to the Homicide Unit for further investigations.
During investigations, Seidu confessed to the crime and mentioned Padmore and Mohammed as his accomplices.
On October 11, Seidu led a team of investigators from the Homicide Unit and pathologists from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to Akwamu Amanfo, near Nsawam Adoagyiri, where he identified the grave where the deceased was buried.
ASP Abadamlora said the body of the deceased was exhumed and conveyed to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Mortuary and on October 13, an autopsy was carried on the body.
A source close to the prosecution told the Times after court sittings yesterday that the police has finally received the autopsy report on the body issued by the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on October 13.
The police on November 2, told the Accra Magistrate Court, that it was yet to receive the autopsy report on the body of the missionary to enable it to prepare a bill of indictment for the committal of the three persons being held in connection with the case.
The three, Kofi Seidu, a driver, Goodwill Padmore, a pastor and Issaka Mohammed, a mason, are facing charges of conspiracy to murder and murder and their plea has not been taken.
As a result of the prosecution’s submission, the case was adjourned to Tuesday November 16, which was declared a public holiday.
But when the court resumed sitting yesterday, the magistrate, Mr. Samuel Kofi Ahiabor, adjourned the case to December 1.
The prosecution’s case is that the deceased, Rev Barnes, 75, arrived in the country in 1995.
The prosecutor said Seidu was also a farm manager of the deceased, while Padmore was the Principal of Prestige Secretarial and Business Academy in Koforidua while Mohammed is a resident of Adoagyiri in Nsawam.
ASP Abadamlora said the deceased established a Christian ministry, known as Cross Road Christian Missionary Incorporated, in Koforidua.
The prosecutor said beside the missionary work, the deceased also had a farm at Akwamu, near Nsawam, which was managed by Seidu while his private secretarial institution was handled by Padmore.
On December 27, 2009, ASP Abadamlora said, the deceased went to the USA and he was to return to Ghana on March 18, this year.
On March 17, Padmore gave Seidu some money to repair the vehicle of the deceased so that they could use it to convey him from the Airport to Koforidua the following day.
ASP Abadamlora said on March 18, Seidu after collecting GH˘50 for fuel left early in the morning saying he wanted to "do some rounds" before picking up the deceased in the evening.
At about 23:30 hours, ASP Abadamlora said, Seidu called Padmore on phone saying that the deceased had not arrived so he had driven the vehicle to Nsawam Adoagyiri.
The prosecutor said on March 19, a witness in the case detected that Seidu had sustained some injuries on both hands and when he was quizzed, he told the witness that he and a white friend were involved in an accident in Koforidua.
He said that the said white friend was receiving treatment at the Saint Joseph's Hospital in Koforidua.
The prosecutor said Seidu also went to a chemical shop for a tetanus injection and was asked to purchase the drugs but he did not return.
ASP Abadamlora said Seidu also presented a laptop to a witness in the case and when it was switched on, the name of the deceased appeared on the screen.
The prosecutor said the bag of the deceased was found in the vehicle driven by the accused.
ASP Abadamlora said following a report lodged with INTERPOL on the disappearance of the deceased, Seidu was arrested and handed over to the Homicide Unit for further investigations.
During investigations, Seidu confessed to the crime and mentioned Padmore and Mohammed as his accomplices.
On October 11, Seidu led a team of investigators from the Homicide Unit and pathologists from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to Akwamu Amanfo, near Nsawam Adoagyiri, where he identified the grave where the deceased was buried.
ASP Abadamlora said the body of the deceased was exhumed and conveyed to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Mortuary and on October 13, an autopsy was carried on the body.
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