<<Print>>The trial of Gregory Afoko and one other person over the murder of Adams Mahama, the Upper East Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), took a dramatic turn yesterday when the defence lawyers failed to show up in court.
Gregory, who was at the previous hearing represented by Ekow Ampah Korsa, told the Accra Central Magistrate Court that he did not know where his lawyer was and why he (the lawyer) was not in court.
This was after the magistrate, Worlanyo Kotoku, had inquired from Issah Musah why his lawyer Alfred Adjei Mensah was also not in court for the hearing of the case.
He told the court that his lawyer, who was expected to move an application for the review of his bail conditions, was indisposed.
Interestingly, the allegedly ‘sick lawyer’ was said to have been spotted in other courts at the High Court area.
Supt. Francis Baah, prosecuting, however asked for a two-week adjournment to unable the defence team prepare for the trial.
Mr. Kotoku told the prosecution that Mr. Adjei Mensah had wanted to file for a review of the bail application but it was unfortunate he was not in court to do same.
He granted the two-week request by the prosecution and adjourned hearing until September 8, 2015.
Gregory Afoko, brother of NPP National chairman, Paul Afoko, could not contain his frustrations and yelled at the prosecutor handling his case in court.
Afoko screamed: “Stop lying against me”, when he was being led to the police van after the court had adjourned the case.
Superintendent Francis Baah was surprise by the action of the suspected murderer.
Police investigations had allegedly revealed that the suspect was involved in the acid attack on Adams Mahama, as acid found on his clothes pointed to the one used on the murdered NPP chairman.
The 50-year-old Gregory Afoko, a farmer and IssahMusah, are before the court for allegedly intentionally and unlawfully causing the death of Adams on May 20, 2015 at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
According to the Police, Issah, who is a member of the NPP, on the 19th of May 2015 solicited and procured the deadly acid which he gave to the other two suspects who in turn poured the acid on Adams.
Asabke Alangdi, the third accused, has been on the run, together with his wife, leaving behind their one-and-half-year-old baby.
Gregory is facing charges of conspiracy and murder while Issah Musah, a driver, is being tried for abetment.
The plea of the two has not been taken.
Musa was granted bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 with four sureties.
As part of the bail conditions, Musah is to report to the police CID from Monday to Thursday every week until the case before the court is disposed off.
Gregory was last week refused bail by an Accra Human Rights Court because in the view of the judge, the charges against Gregory were well laid and there had also not been any issue of undue delay in respect of the trial.
According to the Police charge sheet, Gregory, after his arrest was asked to lead the Police to the house of his accomplice, Asabke Alangdi, but “he rather took them to the father’s house”.
Police later located the house of the accomplice, but the suspect had got wind of their presence and absconded with his wife leaving behind their baby.
“A gallon, which contains some of the substance and a plastic cup, were retrieved at the scene for forensic examination,” the charge sheet added.
The Police revealed that a “post mortem examination was conducted on the body of the deceased and the Pathologist gave the cause of death as shock lungs and extensive acid burns.”