Amo Frank Kwaku has been jailed for life after jurors on Monday found him guilty of stabbing 23-year-old Isaac Kwabena Kyere to death in Marsa in 2021.

Jurors found him guilty by an 8-1 vote of wilful homicide. Jurors also found Kwaku guilty, by six votes to three, of unlawful detention accompanied by bodily harm and, by eight votes to one, of carrying a weapon while committing a crime against a person. He was unanimously acquitted of the charge of disobeying police orders while allegedly attempting to evade arrest.

Kwaku was subsequently jailed for life and was also ordered to pay €19,853 in court experts.

The victim was stabbed at least 18 times, including four wounds to his chest and abdomen, several of which proved fatal.

During submissions on punishment, the prosecution asked the court to take into account the strong verdict returned by the jury, as well as Kwaku’s previous convictions for other offences, including theft.

Legal aid lawyer Josette Sultana argued against the imposition of a life sentence, pointing out that the guilty verdict on the wilful homicide charge had not been unanimous. 

The case dates back to the night of 10 June 2021, when Kwaku and 23-year-old Isaac Kwabena Kyere allegedly became involved in an argument over a bottle of whisky while at a friend’s home in Marsa. The dispute later spilled onto the street, with the two men allegedly encountering each other again near the pedestrian bridge in the area of Racecourse Street.

Kwaku was tracked down several hours later at a property in Azzopardi Road where police said he attempted to escape across rooftops before being arrested. A knife believed to be the murder weapon was subsequently recovered beneath a tree. 

During the trial by jury, emergency doctors Micheal Spiteri and Jonathan Joslin testified that Kyere was already in traumatic cardiac arrest when medical teams arrived at the scene. He was covered in blood and had suffered numerous stab wounds, including serious injuries to the left side of his chest and abdomen.

Doctors immediately began resuscitation, carrying out chest compressions, intubating Kyere and treating complications caused by his chest injuries. He was also given blood because of the extensive blood loss. Kyere was transferred to Mater Dei Hospital, where resuscitation efforts continued, but doctors were never able to restore a pulse and he died shortly afterwards. Joslin also noted injuries consistent with defensive wounds.

The prosecution was led by Attorney General lawyers Kaylie Bonett and Michael Muscat, together with Inspector Wayne Camilleri. Legal aid lawyer Josette Sultana appeared for Kwaku.

Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera presided over the trial by jury.