A seven-member jury was yesterday, 17th March, 2010 empanelled by the Accra Fast Track High Court to try the case of the three soldiers charged with the murder of the Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People�s Party, Alhaji Issah Mobilla.
The selection of the all-male jury was done randomly by the court through the picking of ballots from a list of jurors in Accra. There was no objection to any member of the jury by either party in the case.
After swearing in the jury, the court began hearing the case with two prosecution witnesses giving evidence of the circumstances surrounding the arrest and death of Alhaji Mobilla. They were Abubakar Abdul Sahana, an acquaintance of Alhaji Mobila and Mathias Abenoore, one of the police officers who transferred Mobila from the Tamale office of the Bureau of National Investigations to the Tamale Kamina Military Barracks. Two more prosecution witnesses are expected to give their evidence in chief today at the court presided by Justice Senyo Dzamefeh.
Cpt. Yaw Appiah and Private Eric Modzaka are facing two counts of conspiracy and murder. A third accused person, Private Seth Goka, is on the run and is being tried in absentia. The three were first put before the Tamale High Court, presided over by Justice George Suureebari in July 2005 but the Attorney-General ordered the transfer of the case to Accra.
According to the prosecution, Alhaji Mobila was tortured to death on December 9, 2004 by the three who were on duty at the time he was transferred to the military custody. Prosecution told the court that shortly after Alhaji Mobila was taken into custody he told the guards on duty that the was thirsty following which he was given water. Three hours after taking a sip, he died.
<<Print>>