Man Jailed 20 Years for Killing Wife in Front of Child After Jealous Rage

A 60-year-old man, Doe Fiano, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by an Accra High Court for shooting and killing his wife in the presence of their four-year-old child.

Fiano pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received an additional 10-year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm. However, Justice Mrs. Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie ruled that both sentences will run concurrently.

The tragic event unfolded after a heated argument between Fiano and his wife, Grace Yorke Torku, triggered by a phone call she received from a male acquaintance. In a jealous outburst, Fiano retrieved a pistol from their bedroom and fatally shot her.

Originally facing a murder charge, Fiano pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of manslaughter under Section 296(1) of Act 30, resulting in a reduced sentence.

Fiano’s lawyer pleaded for leniency, highlighting that he had no previous criminal record, had shown remorse, and was the main caregiver for their children. However, the prosecution pushed for a minimum 30-year sentence, stressing the emotional trauma caused to the child who witnessed the killing and the brutal nature of the act — including gunshot wounds to the victim’s head and genital area.

In delivering the sentence, the judge considered both mitigating and aggravating factors, including Fiano’s remorse, his role as a first-time offender, and his responsibilities to his children.

According to prosecutors, the Assemblyman for the Okomante Electoral Area, Gordon Tsimese, alerted authorities after Fiano was spotted wielding a gun and threatening residents at Taaboo Line. Police later discovered Grace lying in a pool of blood. The murder weapon and an empty magazine were recovered in a subsequent search.

Fiano was later apprehended at Nii Amui Park in Ashaiman through police intelligence. A pathologist from Tema General Hospital confirmed that Grace died from gunshot wounds to the head.