General News of Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Source: adomonline.com
2018-03-21
The late Major Maxwell Adams Mahama
A fresh challenge stares at the face of the court hearing the murder case of slain soldier, Major Maxwell Mahama as it is struggling to put a Jury in place.
A seven-member panel must be selected from a number more than seven to hear the case but when the case was called on Wednesday, only seven people were present to form the jury.
The trial Judge, Mariama Owusu, has therefore urged officials from the Judicial Service to assist the court and shoring up the numbers.
The charges of abetment of crime namely murder, conspiracy to commit crime and murder were, for the first time, read to them as they were handed an opportunity to respond.
Father of the late soldier, Captain Rtd Dennis Mahama who was in court kept his eyes on each of the accused persons as they took turns to say, “not guilty”.
The case has been adjourned twice as some of the accused persons did not have legal representation.
All 14 now have lawyers after the court appointed Godwin Gyamfi to join defence lawyers George Bernard Shaw, Augustine Gyamfi, Augustine Obuor and Seidu Nasigri.
Lawyer Nashiru Yussif is meanwhile monitoring the case (watching brief) on behalf of the family of the late soldier while Chief State Attorney Evelyn Keelson is leading prosecution.
Hearing of the case continues on April 12.