Man Jailed for Life After 18-Stab Murder Over Whiskey Dispute

Police cars at night. Police car chasing a car at night with fog background. 911 Emergency response police car speeding to scene of crime. (Photo: Adobe Stock)

A man in Malta has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering another man following an argument over a bottle of whiskey.

Amo Frank Kwaku, 30, was found guilty Monday of killing fellow Ghanaian national Isaac Kwabena Kyere, 23, in Marsa in June 2021, the Times of Malta reported. Kwaku stabbed Kyere 18 times, with several wounds proving fatal, according to prosecutors.

Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera sentenced Kwaku to life imprisonment and ordered him to pay €19,000 in court expenses.

Jurors found Kwaku guilty of wilful homicide by an 8-1 vote. He was also convicted of illegally detaining Kyere by a 6-3 vote and illegally carrying a weapon by an 8-1 vote.

He was acquitted of disobeying police orders by a unanimous 9-0 vote.

Argument Over a Bottle of Whiskey

According to prosecutors, Kwaku and Kyere were visiting a friend’s home in Marsa when an argument broke out over a bottle of whiskey.

The dispute continued after Kwaku left the property, with Kyere following shortly afterward.

The two encountered each other again near a pedestrian bridge on Gerrejja Street in Marsa. Prosecutors said Kwaku attacked Kyere with a knife, stabbing him 18 times.

An earlier account of the case published by Times of Malta said witnesses told police the two men had argued over who was supposed to receive the bottle of whiskey.

One witness said Kyere had grabbed a kitchen knife during the argument at the home, apparently to threaten Kwaku, before leaving the property.

Another witness later saw the two men fighting in the street. The witness said he intervened and told them to stop, but Kwaku then grabbed a stick before Kyere suddenly collapsed.

Police found Kyere covered in blood near the pedestrian bridge. He was still alive but struggling to breathe.

An autopsy later determined that he had suffered 18 stab wounds, including four fatal wounds to his torso. Injuries to his arms and palms were consistent with defensive wounds.

Two emergency doctors later testified about efforts to save Kyere at the scene, according to the Times of Malta. Michael Spiteri told the court that Kyere was covered in blood and that his heart had stopped after he suffered critical wounds to his chest and abdomen.

Medical personnel attempted to restart his heart and administered blood at the scene because of the amount he had lost.

Jonathan Joslin testified that he saw numerous additional stab wounds, including injuries to Kyere’s neck and shoulder.

Despite the emergency treatment, Kyere could not be revived. Medical personnel continued efforts to treat him while taking him to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Kwaku had initially been granted bail while awaiting trial for Kyere’s murder.

That bail was later revoked after Kwaku was arrested in connection with an armed robbery at a convenience store in Santa Venera in December 2025.

According to Times of Malta, Kwaku held an employee against her will during the robbery. He also assaulted police officers and breached his bail conditions.

Kwaku later pleaded guilty to the robbery and received a four-year prison sentence.

The murder case ultimately returned to trial, where jurors found him guilty of killing Kyere.

The prosecution was led by Attorney General lawyers Kaylie Bonett and Michael Muscat. Lawyer Josette Sultana represented Kwaku.