Woman, 28, In Police Grip For Killing Neighbour

The Police in Agogo in the Asante-Akim North District in the Ashanti Region are holding a 28-year-old woman, Nana Afia Tiwaa, for allegedly clubbing a 57-year-old woman to death at nearby Juansa. The suspect, whom police described as a trouble causer, was said to have hit Afia Birago, with a pestle following an altercation in the latter�s house, leading to her death. Preliminary reports the Daily Graphic obtained from the police and eyewitnesses were, however, conflicting. While the police said initial information they had indicated that Tiwaa had gone to the Birago�s house to recharge her mobile phone, some eyewitnesses said she was in the house to smoke Indian hemp. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr George Amponsah, the Agogo District Police Commander, told the Daily Graphic on phone yesterday that the incident occurred on Saturday evening. He stated that the police were still gathering information on the incident but confirmed that the suspect was a notorious troublemaker whose mother had, on a number of occasions, reported her behaviour to the police at Juansa. ASP Amponsah said on Saturday evening, Tiwaa went to Birago�s house to have her mobile phone recharged. When Tiwaa entered the house, Birago picked up a quarrel with her and in the course of the exchanges, the suspect hit Birago with a pestle. Birago later died at the Agogo Hospital. The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital for autopsy. ASP Amponsah, however, said the suspect had denied hitting Birago with a pestle. The district commander said his outfit was preparing the coroner's form for processing to enable the autopsy to take place. The account as told by eyewitnesses alleged that Tiwaa used to smoke wee with a tenant in Birago�s house. On that day, when Tiwaa went to the house allegedly to smoke the stuff, Birago, said to be a farmer, tried to drive her away, resulting in a fierce exchange of words. In the process, the suspect hit Birago with the pestle. She collapsed and died later in hospital.