AN ACCRA Magistrate Court presided over by His Worship Worlanyo Kotoko has adjourned the murder trial of Gregory Afoko to today, December 21, 2015 to enable the defence lawyers file a proper motion in their bid to secure justice for the 53-year-old farmer.
Mr. Afoko is standing trial for his alleged involvement in the murder of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Upper East regional chairman, Adams Mahama. His lawyers are angry over what they describe as undue delay by the prosecutor of the case.
Mr. Afoko and Asabke Alangdi, who is currently on the run, have been officially charged with two counts to wit conspiracy to commit murder and murder.
When the case was called, Israel Ackah, counsel for the accused called on the judge to make a ruling on his argument that a high court has a ruling which is binding on the Magistrate Court, but the judge indicated that he wanted to see that ruling.
The case was, thus, adjourned to Monday December 21 by which time the defence counsel would have filed it accordingly.
The prosecutor from the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service also told the court that they were still in touch with the Attorney General’s department to “know how far the processes toward the bill of indictment had gone.”
He later prayed the court to grant them an adjournment, but his request was met with strong opposition from the defence lawyers, led by lawyer Ackah.
It was the case of the defence lawyer that they are not happy about the undue delay on the part of the State and that the court should not encourage the excuses from the prosecutor.
Issah freed
At the last adjourned date, Wednesday November 25, the court freed Issah Musah, the third accused person who was then standing trial for his role in the death of the NPP chairman.
No bail
In the case of Mr. Afoko, an Accra High Court refused him bail, saying there had not been any unreasonable delay in the matter.
The court presided over by Mr. Justice K. A. Okwabi noted that the facts and charges were properly laid and they connected Mr. Afoko to the crime.
Facts
In May, while he was on his way home, Mr Mahama was attacked with acid, and he later died at the hospital. He reportedly named some of the persons who attacked him.
According to the police, Mr Afoko after his arrest was asked to lead the police to the house of his accomplice, Mr Alangdi, but “he rather took them to the father’s house.” The police said they later located the house of the second person, but the suspect, having gotten wind of their presence, absconded with his wife, leaving behind their baby.
“A gallon, which allegedly contained the substance and a plastic cup were retrieved from the scene for forensic examination,” the police stated.
The police said a “post-mortem examination was conducted on the body of Mr. Mahama and the pathologist gave the cause of the death as shocked lungs and extensive acid burns.” Mr. Musah was arrested for allegedly buying the acid used for the attack.
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