‘Don’t say that again’ – Lawyers warn suspect after revealing sensitive information to the court

Never do that in court. Don’t ever say something if you don’t understand the question. You are sick but you must control yourself. Don’t say that again and stick to what we tell you, Lawyer Ohene Duodu Bernerth warned his client after he had complicated himself. 

It was all going well with the suspect, Kelvin Badu, before his illness became a problem for him. Kelvin in the witness box of the Sunyani District Court B was calm when the prosecutors from the Sunyani Police stood on their toes to interrogate and seek answers to a murder case. Kelvin, under no stress, stood with confidence and answered everything word by word until it became critical for him.

Did you know your wife was going to die on that day, the prosecutors questioned Kelvin. Yes, I knew, Kelvin responded. Before Kelvin could make any further statement, his lawyers had already stood up objecting to the question Kelvin had already answered. 

Objection my Lord, the question is out of context and should not be answered. The prosecutors are going beyond their limits. They are plying on the health status of the defendant to corner him for evidence, the lawyer, Ohene Duodu Bernerth said after Kelvin had complicated himself. 

Overruled! Take your seat counsellor. The defendant shall answer the question, the Judge responded to Kelvin’s lawyer. Kelvin right there, came to his senses of what he was about to do or say and begged the court to take his meds. 

I am suffering from dementia your honour, and that makes me lose my senses if I don’t take my meds, Kelvin begged the court to be allowed to take his meds after responding yes to a sensitive question. Please can you ask your previous question again, Kelvin begged the court to allow the prosecutors to repeat their question. 

This created a swift between the prosecutors and the lawyers of Kelvin on why an already answered question should be asked again. The court through his Lordship Fred Obikyere adjourned the hearing to 24 January 2022 after prosecutors and Kelvin’s lawyers couldn’t make a compromise on medical grounds. 

Kelvin, a medically unfit man, is charged with tampering with the brakes of his wife’s car. He was given bail on 14 January 2021 after he was arrested on 2 January for allegedly murdering his wife through an accident. 

The wife, Comfort Badu, died on 28 December 2021 after a brake failure but prosecutors have evidence that Kelvin tempered with the brakes before his wife took the car. The case will be called back on Monday 24 January for another hearing.  

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