Mother pledges to fight on for truth about daughter’s death in Ghana hotel room
THE family of a Scots woman found dead in a Ghanaian hotel room vowed last night to do all they can to get answers to her death after a murder case against her pastor husband was dropped.
Eric Adusah was accused of killing his three months pregnant wife Charmain Speirs after her body was discovered face down in a bathtub on March 20 when the couple were on holiday in his home country.
But last week, the preacher – who had denied the offence – was told he would not face trial as there was insufficient evidence to link him to his wife’s death.
The decision has left Miss Speirs’ parents, who live in Arbroath, Angus, reeling as details about what happened to their loving daughter have been scarce.
Last night, her mother Linda Speirs said: ‘I’m so devastated that my daughter’s life means nothing.
‘I’ve asked for a copy of the death certificate and the post mortem results. If her body is brought back here I’m going to find out if I can get a post mortem done over here.
‘I can’t go through the rest of my life just not knowing what went on.’
An interim autopsy report on Miss Speirs, who had an eight-year-old son from a previous relationship, revealed that the 41-year-old had lethal levels of heroin in her system.
However, a report prepared by Ghana’s attorney general’s office said police found no evidence of drugs in her hotel room or among her belongings.
Mrs Speirs has repeatedly insisted her daughter was vehemently against drugs and would not have taken them of her own accord. The 61-year-old said: ‘ They keep saying she died of this overdose of drugs – Charmain just wouldn’t entertain them.
‘If there were no drugs found in the hotel room, where did they come from and why would she be face-down in a bath with a towel round her?’
Mr Adusah is the leader of Global Light Revival Ministries, which has branches in Edinburgh, London and Manchester, and met his future wife on a Christian dating website.
The former NHS radiography assistant was living in Swansea and the couple married in September 2014 after a whirlwind romance.
They moved to Essex and later planned a trip to Ghana, where it was thought they were to attend the funeral of Mr Adusah’s father.
While Miss Speirs arrived in February, her husband flew in a week later and despite spending some of their time in Ghana apart, they were booked into the upmarket Mac-Dic Royal Plaza Hotel in Koforidua together from March 16.
The pastor left a day later but his wife was to stay until March 20. When she failed to check out, hotel workers entered the room and made the grim discovery.
Mr Adusah was accused of causing his wife’s death but, after several court hearings, he was discharged and released.
Mrs Speirs and her self-employed plumber husband Peter, 64, were rocked by the decision and have sought legal help in the hope they can raise the case again.
She said: ‘The lawyer suggested that he’s going to try to use human
‘I’ve been kept in the dark about everything’
rights rules so that I can get a court case but it would have to be in Ghana.
‘I feel let down by the authorities and justice system over there, it’s like my daughter’s life is worth nothing. It’s a disgrace.
‘I’ve been kept in the dark about everything, it’s so annoying that we’re not being told anything.’
The family is hoping that Miss Speirs’ husband will return her body to Arbroath for burial.
Attempts to contact Mr Adusah were unsuccessful.