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The two men allegedly poured acid on the victim who died, was severely burned and died the next day when he was admitted to the Bolgatanga Municipal Hospital.
Afoko and Asabke appear in court for two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime and murder.
This is the second time that Gregory Afoko is being tried for the offense after the state earlier this year pledged to halt the first trial following the arrest of Asabke, who was on the run and was hiding in Abidjan , in Ivory Coast.
The two have all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them by the state.
Jury
The court was able to convince and swear a seven-member jury to hear the case despite the dismissal of three potential jurors.
Stephen Sowah Charway, an Afoko lawyer, urged the court to give them the opportunity to conduct a background check on prospective jurors.
Marina Appiah Opare, a Attorney General, objected that the law does not provide for background checks of prospective jurors, adding that "this has never been the case and that it is not what the law has planned".
The court chaired by Judge Merley Wood rejected the lawyer's claim, saying that what he was asking for was not provided for by law.
Mr. Charway then reiterated his request, this time asking the court to give them some time to check the background of the seven selected jurors, so that if they have "reasoned objections" within the meaning of Article 51 of Law 30, they can do it.
Ms. Opare also objected to this proposal, arguing that Afoko had rejected three potential jurors and that she had no objection to the selected candidates. As a result, she could not request the ability to perform a background check of the selected individuals.
Again, the judge rejected the claim, saying that if Afoko had opposed four prospective jurors, the "reasoned objections" would arise.
Declaration of opening
Ms. Opare, in her opening statement, explained to the jury the constituent elements of the charges of conspiracy and murder.
She told them that the state would prove during the trial that both defendants were responsible for the death of the late Adam Mahama.
She added that the State will summon 19 witnesses and will also file a number of exhibits through them.
The case resumes on July 26th.
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