Husband accused of shooting wife rejects cheating claims despite sexy messages
A teacher accused of shooting his seven-month pregnant wife has denied allegations of extramarital affairs.
Effort Dankwa is alleged to have been involved in an amorous relationship with Ernestina Dede Lagbenuko, also a teacher.
But the accused claimed in his caution statement that Ernestina was only a colleague at the same school where he served as a tutor.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Robert Anabiik Angmain, testifying as a prosecution witness, indicated that his investigations proved otherwise.
The accused is said to have sent romantic messages suggesting that the duo were more than friends.
Messages like “I love you”, “You are my baby”, “Your lips are kissable” were captured as part of conversations between Effort Dankwa and Ernestina Dede.
Despite these revealing messages and the accused admitting at some point that he was in love with Ernestina, counsel for the accused, James Anum, insisted that his client was innocent.
He noted that provided the exchanges were true, “it wasn’t a good enough motive for Effort who has no criminal record to take a gun and kill his wife”.
He further argued that the dealings with Ernestina were empty and fanciful. Hence it does not in anyway connect the accused person to the offence.
At the last adjourned date, Effort said he loved his wife Benita Dankwa and would never do anything to harm her.
Effort said what happened on August 29, 2016, was still a mystery to him in his caution statement.
Supposed girlfriend’s side of the story
The police investigator who had a caution statement from Ernestina Dede read to the hearing of the court.
“He (Effort Dankwa) asked for sex, and I told him to take me to his house since that will be the only way to know whether he was married or not because he told me he was single.
“He agreed and said he was staying at his parent’s house at Community 9. I did not go on the said day as arranged but later discovered his real address. When I traced him there, I called him, but he did not answer.
“He later confirmed that he was married and his wife (Benita Dankwa) worked a lot and always travelling. I told him I could only be his friend. He takes me to Prampram Beach at times.
“Anytime we meet, and I ask him about his wife, he gets angry. He never told me about his wife or that she was pregnant. I did not know about his attempt to kill his wife,” the investigator read the lady’s account.
Why Effort Dankwa is in court
Effort Dankwa is alleged to have shot and paralysed his wife in 2016. He was charged with attempted murder.
He was arrested in 2016 after police investigations identified him as the prime suspect in an attack on his wife, who was then 29.
Benita was seven months pregnant at the time the incident occurred. She was shot in the chest in what she believed was an attempt by her husband to kill her.
She survived the attack but ended up paralysed from her waist down to her feet.
She gave birth prematurely to save herself and her baby. The boy will be five years this year.
Investigations by the police suggested there was no sign of forced entry. Neither was anything stolen at the night of the attack, contrary to claims by Effort Dankwa that armed robbers may have broken into the house.
The only person Benita spent the night with was her husband, leaving many to wonder what could have happened on the said day.
The case has been adjourned to May 13, 2021.
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