‘Killer’ cleaner had spare key to late Prof Benneh’s mansion- Police

The Criminal Investigations Department says the cleaner who confessed involvement in the murder of a university lecturer had a spare key to his mansion.

The CID Director-General, COP Ken Isaac Yeboah told reporters the suspect had gone to the house to rob his boss, Prof. Yaw Benneh, but ended up killing him when he resisted.

He said the suspect James Nana Womba and two accomplices went into Prof. Benneh’s East Legon home on September 10, 2020, ostensibly to steal.

“They hit him with an iron rod, then tied him up, gagged him, until he died”

COP Yeboah said “Based on forensic evidence gathered from the crime scene, the cleaner was subjected to further questioning and he broke down and confessed”

“He initially mentioned the names of some suspects but has now changed his assertion, he said he  committed the crime with one other”

James Nana Womba is said to have taken two mobile phones, GHC450, and the CPU from a desktop computer at the house, which he hid in a septic tank.

BACKGROUND

Prof. Benneh, said to live a solitary life, was found dead in his home Saturday morning. He was believed to have been murdered on Thursday night.

Police picked up his body from his East Legon home on Saturday.

Prof.  Benneh had retired from the University of Ghana but worked on contract and lived alone in his mansion at East Legon, not far from American House.

There was no sign of a break-in.

However, one Isaac Botchway, who was the late law professor’s houseboy said the last time he spoke to him was on Thursday at about 8 pm.

Mr. Botchway said he lived in Accra Central and Prof. Benneh normally called him whenever he needed him to run errands for him.

After finding out that the professor was not answering the door, they broke in.

“When the door was forced open, he was found dead,” Botchway narrated.

His hands and legs were all tied, and his body was found in a pool of blood between the bedroom and the living room.

There were signs of a struggle in the room prior to his death.