Gregory Afoko and Asabke Alangde were released by Justice Marie-Louise Simmons, who presided over Criminal Division Two of the High Court in Accra, following the State’s failure to show up or advance in their protracted murder trial.
After the second trial resulted in a hung jury, the two men were on trial for the third time on accusations of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The latest trial begun following the filing of a Bill of Indictment, dated March 22, 2019 and the subsequent commencement of proceedings last year.
On January 18, 2024, they entered pleas, and a jury was then assembled.
Prosecution called its first witness (PW1) on April12, 2024.
By November 5, 2024 five prosecution witnesses had testified, with several more anticipated to be called. But after that, the process came to a standstill.
The court stated that the Attorney General’s Office has requested around six postponements of the trial.
Despite jurors continuously arriving and being paid or due to be given allowances, little progress was achieved, and no prosecutor was present in court to brief the judge on the state of the case.
Justice Simmons stated that yesterday’s session marked perhaps the seventh or eighth adjournments without any activity and that no Prosecutor was present to inform the Court about what was happening.
In the meantime, five of the seven jurors are present. Giving the circumstance, the judge discharged the Accused people. The judge also released and dissolved the jury, expressing gratitude for their work.
Both accused defendants were present in court. Emmanuella Dowuna held brief for Osafo Buabeng on behalf of Afoko, while lawyer Andrew Vortia, representing Alangde, was absent.
Unless the State chooses to seek new charges, the discharge essentially ends the third effort at prosecution.
Source: newsthemegh.com