Cop�s Murder Case Adjourned To April 15

The trial of Constable Ebenezer Owusu, who allegedly shot and killed a senior police officer and another at the residence of the former Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, in 2008 has been adjourned to April 15 and 16, 2014. State Attorney, Mr Rex Anthony Wiredu told the court when the case was called that the next prosecution witness who was expected to give evidence-in-chief yesterday was indisposed and therefore needed an adjournment. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Mustapha Habib Logoh, agreed and adjourned the case accordingly. The state began its prosecution on Monday after it produced its first witness, Constable John Ankumah, a policeman who guarded the residence of the then Volta Regional Minister. The witness stated that on June 2, 2008 the girlfriend of the accused person brought him food. He added that Owusu told him he was going to see her off, but he asked him (Owusu) to return early since he was the only person at the residence on guard. He said a few minutes later, a certain gentleman, who happened to be Dzikunu, the deceased, came there and asked to see the Minister. He said he asked Dzikunu to call the Minister and inform him about his arrival if he had his number, which he said he did not have. According to him, the deceased got annoyed and said even the Minister�s nephews know who he was and said he was asked by the Minister to see him, and consequently stormed the residence of the Minister. The distance from the gate to the residence was some meters; as a result, if one was standing at the gate one would not see whatever was happening at the residence of the Minister, he said. Ankumah noted that when the accused person returned, he informed him about the incident and he suggested that they should go and see one of their superiors called T.T. Nartey. In addition, he stated that Owusu briefed TT Nartey about the situation, adding that they arrived together with the District Officer and went straight to the Minister�s residence after the officer parked his vehicle. He noted that a few minutes later, he heard four gunshots, but he did not move to the residence of the Minister. He added later that the District Officer came out and had his hazard light on but said he did not ask him anything. Explaining further, he stated that the Regional Commander, called Mr Derry, later arrived and called for reinforcement, and when reinforcement came, they brought cassava leaves in a pick-up and he saw that there was a human being in it. Ankomah said he was later told by the driver of the officer in charge of Depo that it was the visitor who came to see the Minister. Under cross-examination by Mr Ayikoi Otoo, counsel for Owusu, the witness said he had known the accused person for two years because they attended Police College together. The witness admitted he was at the gate when the incident occurred. He said he heard gunshots but did not know who fired them. The witness also agreed with counsel that if there was a struggle over a gun, it might go off. He observed that Mr Dzikunu was furious when he came to the Minister�s residence. Under cross-examination by the seven-member jury, the witness stated that the accused person did not carry the gun on him before he left to escort his girlfriend, adding that it was only after he returned with the officers that he carried the AK-47 rifle to the residence.