The man who fatally stabbed a musician from Cape Coast in February 2021 has been given the death penalty by hanging.
Bright Ellis, also known in Cape Coast as Shadow, was found guilty and given a death sentence on Wednesday (January 18, 2023) by the Cape Coast High Court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Lodoh.
Bright Ellis stabbed the dancehall performer “Unruly Grank,” real name Emmanuel Aikins, to death during a fight at the Orange Beach Resort in Cape Coast on February 7, 2021.
The 24-year-old musician, also known as “Soft Metal” in Cape Coast’s music scene, was stabbed as a result of an argument with Bright Ellis.
Ellis is a craftsman who is 27 years old.
Following the event, Aikins was declared dead when he arrived at the Cape Coast Hospital.
According to police prosecutors testifying in court, a fight broke out between Unruly Grank and another dancehall artist’s fans in the Cape Coast about who was more well-liked.
According to rumors, the two met up at Cape Coast Castle for a “rap war,” but things got violent when their fans got involved, and Grank was stabbed.
Ellis received a cut on his left hand, reported the deceased to the police, and was given medical documents. However, the police eventually arrested Ellis to help with their inquiries.
The court heard that Grank, in many social media posts, claimed he was the king of dancehall in Cape Coast and most of his fans also referred to him as such.
A fan, Sadick Highest, reacting to the announcement of the release of ‘Frass pon frass’ album, said: “Face of Cape Coast dancehall …Keep it up ma Gee!”
In one of his posts on Facebook, Unruly Grank said: “If you believe yourself, show your face lemme murder you Kahpun”.
Another Unruly Grank post read: “Plenty talking no dey full basket. I said any challenger?”
An observer with the name Renownmuziks Dotnet also queried, “Will there be a clash for Kahpun and Unruly Grank in Cape Coast? #Higherhieght #Softmetal #reggaedancehall.
The mother of the late artist Kate Swanzy expressed gratitude that justice had been done in response to the verdict.
She expressed her excitement about the decision, which she thought was just.
She advised Ghanaians to occasionally practice patience in cases involving court hearings so that thorough investigations could be conducted.
