Accra: A High Court in Accra has sentenced Nicolas Kini, a student, to life imprisonment for the murder of 10-year-old Ishmael Mensah Abdalla in Kasoa in 2021. The case involved an alleged ritual killing motivated by financial gain. Kini's accomplice, a minor at the time of the crime, was referred to a juvenile court for sentencing. According to Ghana News Agency, the court's decision followed a guilty verdict by a seven-member jury against Kini, then 18, and his 15-year-old accomplice. They faced charges of conspiracy and murder, with the younger defendant pleading guilty to conspiracy but denying murder, while Kini denied all charges and claimed an alibi. However, the alibi was not substantiated as the cited witness had passed away. During the trial, led by Senior State Attorney Abena Adoma Osei, seven witnesses were called. The case proceeded with the court ordering the defendants to present their defense after finding a prima facie case against them. Justice Lydia Osei-Marfo, who presided over the trial , emphasized the societal impact of parental neglect, citing it as a factor contributing to such crimes. The prosecution outlined that Ishmael Mensah Abdalla resided with his family near Kasoa and was familiar with the accused. On March 29, 2021, Kini allegedly sought financial gain through rituals after watching a program on Lucky Television. The ritualist required a fee and a human sacrifice, leading Kini to target Ishmael. The minor accomplice lured Ishmael to an uncompleted building, where Kini and the accomplice attacked him. The attack ended with Ishmael being buried, intended for exhumation the following day. A witness to the crime, the accomplice's sister, alerted her father, leading to a confession from the minor. A postmortem by Chief Superintendent Dr. Osei Owusu Afriyie confirmed multiple blunt force injuries on Ishmael. The defense counsel for both defendants extended condolences to Ishmael's family. Mr. Harrison Mensah, the victim's uncle, expressed the family's satisfaction with the verdict.