By Hafsa
Obeng, GNA
Accra, July 6, GNA – The trial judge in the
case involving Gregory Afoko, accused of murdering the former Upper East
Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said that what happened
in the late J. B. Danquah’s trial with series of delays would not happen in his
court.
He said “this is not a district court and I
would not allow what happened in the J. B. Danquah’s case to happen here. There
would be horrifying reactions if this case turns out like that”.
The presiding judge, Justice Lawrence L.
Mensah said this after the prosecution told the court that the next witness who
is supposed to be the pathologist, one, Dr Lawrenec Adusei has asked the court
to give him two weeks to present his report.
The prosecution led by Mr Mathew Amponsah told
the court that he got in touch with the witness as ordered by the court at the
last adjourned date and the witness informed him that his report was not ready,
praying the court to give him an additional two weeks.
The court however did not take the plea
lightly as it stated that, it is making all efforts to expedite the trial, and
would not accept any delays.
He said “we judges write down 50 to 60 and
sometimes 100 paged judgements and yet it doesn’t take us two weeks. What kind
of report is he writing?
“We are not joking here, it is his civic
responsibility as a medical officer although he is on retirement”.
The court then adjourned the matter to July
10, 11, 12 and 13 for continuation.
Earlier the 12th prosecution
witness during cross examination by defence counsel told the court that the
police team conducted two searches in the accused’s house, and during the first
search did not find anything but on the next day found a track suit.
When asked whether the track suit had an upper
and lower part (the trouser and the jacket), he answered that he was only aware
they said they found a track suit in the house but he could not tell whether it
has an upper and lower part.
On the issue of whether one other person
called Isaah Musah was also arrested in connection with the case he told the
court that a lot of people were arrested in connection with the case, so he
could not remember that name.
The defence Counsel asked the witness whether
he was aware that doctors at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital examined scars on
the legs of the accused of which the witness said he was not aware.
The witness said he had personal knowledge in
this case arising from the investigations he conducted but the core
investigation itself was done by the Criminal Investigations department
Homicide Unit.
He was later discharged after they defence
counsel ended its cross examination for the prosecution to bring its next
witness.
At the last adjourned date the prosecution
presented its 12th witness Detective Chief Inspector Charles Blay, who gave his
evidence in chief.
The prosecution has so far called 12 witnesses
including Hajia Adams, Madam Issaka, Quinn, Taufic, Dominic, Awafo, Thomas,
Benjamin, James, Peter, Sampson and Charles. They intend to call three more
witnesses.
Afoko, a farmer, is alleged to have killed Mr
Mahama on May 20, 2015, and he is being held on the charges of conspiracy to
commit crime to wit murder and murder.
He has pleaded not guilty before the Court,
which is also composed of a seven-member jury.
It was alleged that Afoko carried out the act
with Alandgi Asabke, who is on the run.
GNA