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Ghanaian Couple Jailed 25 Years In US
A Ghanaian couple based in the United States will serve 25 years in jail for second-degree murder in the death of their five-year-old son.
Valerie Owusu and her boyfriend, Emmanuel Addae, both 28 years old and living in Corona, Queens, New York, were convicted in March of depraved indifference murder in the killing of King Owusu.
The verdict was given in court on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with mother Valarie in tears.
Despite expressing compassion for the child and appealing for leniency, acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Pilewski imposed the maximum penalty.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said; “The jury has spoken, but unfortunately, that will not bring back this young boy.”
The sentencing comes nearly three years after the two viciously assaulted the child and left him for dead on Long Island.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, Valerie Owusu and Emmanuel Addae beat the child with “at least four different instruments” over three days in 2021.
The authorities stated that neither Owusu, the victim’s biological mother, nor Addae phoned 911 or provided medical attention when his condition deteriorated.
They went on to allege that they later sent the child to a family member’s house. The family member later arrived home to discover the boy had died.
“This little boy was beaten and suffered for days at the hands of these defendants, one of whom was his own mother, until he, unfortunately, succumbed to his severe and extensive injuries.
“Thanks to the thorough investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department, the relentless pursuit of justice by the prosecutors assigned to this case, and the jury’s careful consideration of the evidence presented, the defendants have been held accountable for this horrific crime,” the District Attorney said in a press statement.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
