Newly appointed lawyer for Gregory Afoko has made a fresh application for bail for his client after the wife of the late Adams Mahama, Zenabu Mahama, who is the first prosecution witness in the murder trial, failed to turn up in court to continue with her evidence-in-chief in the trial of Afoko for the murder of the former Upper East Region Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Lawyer Safo Buaben says from May 21, 2015 when the accused person was arrested, he has been in police custody and, now, in prison custody.
He cited the recent Supreme Court decision that removed murder from non-bailable offences from the country’s statute books.
He says his client has prominent personalities in society who are willing to stand surety for him for bail.
Lawyer Buaben also said his client is ready to comply with any conditions that may be attached to his bail.
Chief State Attorney Matthew Amponsah, however, said the state is opposed to the latest bail application by the accused person.
He states that the case has only dragged on because the accused has not been well for a while and that occasioned the several adjournments that the case has suffered.
Thursday’s request for adjournment by the state is the first of its kind and it is simply due to the fact that the first prosecution witness has just been taken ill.
Mr Amponsah assured the court that prosecution will furnish the court with a medical report of the first prosecution witness.
He drew the attention of the court not to only consider the liberty of the accused but also pay particular attention to the emotions of the family of the deceased as well as the whole nation.
Lawyer Safo Buaben, on a point of law, disagreed with the state attorney.
According to him, the call by his colleague on the other side for the court to consider the emotions of the family and the nation at large is prejudicial.
He says by extension he is calling for the accused person to be convicted at all cost.
The presiding Judge, L. L. Mensah, a justice of the Court of Appeal but sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court judge, in his ruling said it will be in the interest of the nation for the accused person to remain in prison custody.
The bail was, therefore, refused.
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