A Ghanaian couple has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the brutal death of a five-year-old child on Long Island. Valerie Owusu and Emmanuel Addae were convicted on 22 March, almost three years after Owusu’s son, King, was discovered dead in a home in Brentwood, New York.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, the young boy endured days of relentless abuse at the hands of the defendants before succumbing to his injuries. District Attorney Raymond Tierney condemned the heinous act, stating, “This little boy was beaten and suffered for days… until he unfortunately succumbed to his severe and extensive injuries.”
Prosecutors revealed that Owusu and Addae subjected the child to horrific violence, utilizing “at least four different instruments” over a three-day period in 2021. Despite the boy’s deteriorating condition and loss of consciousness, neither defendant sought medical assistance or contacted emergency services.
Tragically, on 1 April, 2021, King was taken to a relative’s home by Owusu and Addae, where he was left unattended. Upon the family member’s return, the child was discovered lifeless. Medical examinations disclosed extensive injuries spanning from “head to toe,” indicative of prolonged physical abuse.
Owusu and Addae now await sentencing, facing the possibility of life imprisonment for their reprehensible actions. Their sentencing is scheduled for 1 May, marking a significant step towards justice for King and a community reeling from the senseless tragedy.
