A disturbing case of domestic violence reached its conclusion at an Accra High Court where 60-year-old Doe Fiano was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for the killing of his wife, Grace Yorke Torku, during a domestic argument that turned deadly—right in front of their four-year-old son.
The fatal confrontation unfolded when a phone call from a male acquaintance triggered Fiano’s suspicion and jealousy. What began as a verbal exchange escalated quickly. Fiano left the scene, returned armed with a pistol, and shot his wife dead in their home at Taaboo Line, traumatizing their young child who witnessed everything.
Initially charged with murder, Fiano entered a guilty plea for the lesser charge of manslaughter, securing a lighter punishment under Section 296(1) of Ghana’s Criminal and Other Offences Procedure Act (Act 30). In addition to the manslaughter conviction, he was also sentenced to 10 years for unlawful possession of a firearm. Both sentences will run at the same time, as ruled by Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie.
During the hearing, his lawyer appealed for leniency, pointing out Fiano’s lack of prior criminal history, his display of remorse, and his ongoing responsibility for his children. But the prosecution argued otherwise, insisting that the sentence should reflect the horror of the act, particularly the psychological damage inflicted on the young child who witnessed the killing.
They further described the brutality of the crime, highlighting gunshot wounds inflicted on the victim’s head and genital area, painting a chilling picture of the incident’s violence. The prosecution had requested a 30-year minimum sentence.
After weighing all circumstances—including Fiano’s remorse, the traumatic impact on the child, and the need for justice—the judge imposed a 20-year custodial sentence.
Police investigations began after Assemblyman Gordon Tsimese of the Okomante Electoral Area reported Fiano’s erratic behavior, including threats to bystanders while wielding a gun. Officers responded and discovered Grace’s body in a pool of blood. The murder weapon and an empty magazine were later recovered, and Fiano was arrested at Nii Amui Park in Ashaiman.
A postmortem conducted by a pathologist at the Tema General Hospital on June 6, 2023, confirmed that the victim died from unnatural gunshot wounds to the head.
The court’s decision brings an end to a deeply tragic case that highlights the deadly consequences of domestic violence and unchecked anger.
