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General News of Monday, January 21, 2019
Source: dailyguideafrica.com
2019-01-21
Gregory Afoko has been charged with the murder of the former regional president of the Upper East; Adams Mahama
The trial judge in the Gregory Afoko case, accused of murdering the president of the New Patriotic Region (NPP) of the Upper East East region, rejected a motion to suspend the week.
Last year, the court missed the deadline of June 2018 allowing it to close the case, pending in court since 2016 due to unforeseen circumstances.
Judge Lawrence L. Mensah, a judge of the Court of Appeal sitting as deputy judge in the High Court, complained on several occasions of delays in the trial, mainly due to the absence of witnesses.
The court therefore decided to terminate the case by the end of the month.
The president of the court subsequently dismissed the adjournment of Friday, January 25, 2019 at the request of defense lawyer Osafo Buabeng last Friday.
The lawyer was to call the second and last witness after the first, John Ishmael Afoko, brother of the defendant, was released.
During his appearance in court, Benedicta Antwi, who pleaded for Mr. Buabeng, told the court that his supervisor had told him that their witness was not available and asked the court to dismiss him. 39, case on 25 January 2019 in order to be able to present it.
However, the trial judge did not quite understand the date, as it appears to be at the discretion of the witness.
He then ordered the defense lawyer to present his next witness today.
The judge added that "since as of December 14, 2018, the court agreed on January 21, 2019, he rejects the January 25, 2019 requested by the defense, especially when the date is at the discretion of the witness . If the defense fails to call his witness on the agreed date, the court will consider that the defense is closed and both parties will be required to file their addresses, "Judge Mensah added.
Gregory Afoko was accused of murdering the late Adams Mahama by pouring him acid in May 2015.
The state has called 14 prosecution witnesses, all of whom have testified in the past three years.
Afoko, who opened his defense last December, vehemently denied the lawmaker's murder.
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