[1992]DLSC4282 • July 29, 1992 • Supreme Court •
REPUBLIC vs. DISTRICT COURT GRADE 1, KORLE-GONNO, EX PARTE AMPOMAH
Emmanuel Atta Ampomah, a known hypertensive and diabetic patient, died on 29 January 1990 at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. A partial postmortem by Dr Simmons found bilateral intracerebral hemorrhage consistent with hypertensive heart disease. A second postmortem by Dr Felix Dodu, conducted after a family member expressed suspicion, found no marks of violence or poison but could not examine the brain tissue as it had been removed. Dr Dodu concluded the immediate cause of death was undetermined. Despite police clearance of the widow from suspicion, a coroner's inquest was initiated based on the second postmortem report and family pressure.
read moreARCHER CJ. The late Emmanuel Atta Ampomah was known, before his death, as a hypertensive and diabetic patient for over two decades and had been on treatment at various hospitals for both ailments. His state of health was known to his family and his widow Madam Flora Ampomah, married to the deceased for over 10 years. On 29th January 1990 the deceased upon admission at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital died. On the same day, the body was sent to the mortuary and upon information given by a Dr Boateng, a friend of the family, a post-mortem examination was conducted by the pathologist-in-charge of the mortuary, Dr Simmons, who did a partial post-mortem by opening the head of the corpse. In his police statement Dr Simmons stated that: “On opening the skull I found “bilateral intracerebral haemorrhage with subarachnoid extension” which was also seen by Dr Boateng, the technician who assisted me and the medical students present. This finding was consistent with hypertensive heart disease...