Suspect re-enacts Tema pastor’s murder in the cathedral

Francis Nabegmado, the 31-year-old man suspect in the brazen murder of the pastor of the Tema Community 4 Central Assemblies of God Church has taken part in a crime scene re-enactment.

Francis was led to the crime scene on Thursday, January 3, 2019 to demonstrate how he carried out the crime; a source at the Ghana Police Service told Graphic Online.

According the source, the police took the suspect the crime scene to re-enact how he went about his horrific act. From the church premises, the suspect was led to the residence of the deceased to pin point where the supposed idols he alleged in a confession statement were hidden but was found wanting and fumbled when they got to the house.

“He could not even tell the exact flat that housed his own uncle; he just tossed the police round and round from one room to the other.” the source indicated.

The police said after a detailed search of every part of the residence of the late pastor, nothing was found as claimed by the suspect.

Court appearance
The suspect was put before the TDC District Court on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 and at the behest of the court, he was referred to a psychiatry hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

Spokesperson for the Tema Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Joseph Benefo Darkwah told the Graphic Online that that 31-year old suspect would be sent to the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital for the medical examination to determine whether he was mentally sound or not.

The suspect was slapped with a provisional charge of murder but was remanded into prison custody to reappear on January 17, 2019. His plea was not taken.

The suspect is alleged to have stormed the offices of the pastor who also happened to be his paternal uncle on Sunday, December 30, 2018, slashed his hands and stabbed him in the right rib before slitting his throat.

He was arrested by the church members when he attempted to escape after the act.

Burial                                                                                                                                                                                                      Meanwhile, the National Council of the Assemblies of Church in consultation with the family of the deceased have fixed Saturday, March 9, 2019 for the burial of the late pastor.

The burial service and thanksgiving service will be held at Central Assemblies of God Church, Community 4.

A Memorial service officiated by Rev Dr Harry Insaidoo, a senior pastor of the Assemblies of God Church was held on Sunday, January 6, 2019 in honour of the slain pastor.

In attendance were leaders of the Tema Council of Churches who came to commiserate with their counterparts at the Assemblies of God Church.