By A Ghanaian couple, Valerie Owusu and Emmanuel Addae, has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the tragic death of their 5-year-old son in Long Island, New York, USA.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the convictions on March 22, nearly three years after the couple’s son, King, was discovered deceased in a home in Brentwood, New York.
“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,” District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a press release.
“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 statement added.
Prosecutors alleged Owusu and Addae beat the child with “at least four different instruments” over three days in 2021.
The boy’s condition deteriorated, and he eventually lost consciousness.
According to prosecutors, neither Owusu nor Addae called 911 or provided medical care for King.
On April 1, 2021, the boy was brought to a family member’s house, where Addae and Owusu left him. When the family member returned home, prosecutors said, King was found dead.
Authorities reportedly determined that the boy had suffered numerous injuries from “head to toe” as a result of the beatings.
Meanwhile, Owusu and Addae face life in prison and are scheduled to be sentenced on May 1.
