An Accra High Court hearing the case involving Gregory Afoko, on Tuesday, adjourned to February 17 on the basis of the ill health of the accused.
Ghana News Agency observed that although the accused person was in court today, his health condition did not permit the court to proceed with the trial.
Based on the accused person’s condition of health, the Judge, therefore, adjourned the case and tasked the prosecution to provide the court with the comprehensive health report on the accused as ordered at the last adjourned date.
According to the GNA file, at the last sitting Mr Mathew Amponsah, Chief State Attorney told the court that Afoko’s health condition was deteriorating and that he had not been well and this was confirmed by his lawyer, Mr Osafo Buabeng.
The court, therefore, ordered that Afoko should be re-examined so that the court could decide on what to do.
Afoko, a farmer is alleged to have killed Mr Adams Mahama, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Upper East Region Chairman.
He is being held on the charges of conspiracy to commit a crime to wit murder and murder, he has however pleaded not guilty before a seven-member jury at an Accra High Court.
So far the deceased”s wife Hajia Zenabu Adams had testified in the matter. Prosecution intends to call 14 others witnesses to make their case.
It is alleged that he carried out the act with one Alandgi Asake who is on the run.
A third accomplice, Musa Issa, was granted bail after the Attorney-General advised that there was not enough evidence to charge him.
On February 23, last year, an Accra District Court committed Afoko to stand trial at the High Court to answer to the charges levelled against him.
The State had already undertaken committal proceedings before an Accra Magistrate Court and tendered over 17 exhibits in respect of the trial.
The exhibits include Afoko’s caution and charge statements as well as a post-mortem report of the deceased conducted on November 25, 2015, by Dr Lawrence Edusei; a medical report on the deceased wife who also sustained injuries in her bid to assist the deceased when the incident occurred.
Other exhibits are a gallon containing the alleged residue of acid found at the crime scene, a cup believed to have been used by the assailants in pouring the acid onto the deceased, the deceased’s pair of shoes and attire and a piece of carpet in the deceased car.
The rest were various reports from the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA), a pair of blue-black tracksuit belonging to Afoko and photographs of the crime scene.
Prosecution led by Mr Amponsah, Chief State Attorney, said the deceased was a contractor who lived at Bolgatanga SSNIT Flats in the Upper East Region and the NPP Regional Chairman of the Region.
According to Mr Amponsah, Afoko also lived in Bolgatanga and he was the younger brother of Mr Paul Afoko, former National Chairman of the NPP.
The State said the accused is also a party activist and was close to the deceased.
On May 20, 2015, the deceased left his house to his construction site with his pick-up truck with registration number NR 761-14.
The Chief State Attorney said the deceased returned to the house in the night and at his entrance, two men signalled him to roll down the window of his car.
The deceased obliged and the two men, however, poured acid on the deceased and they fled on a motorbike.
Mr Amponsah said Mr Mahama shouted for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams went to his aid.
He said Mrs. Adams also sustained burns on her chest and breast in her bid to assist the victim.
According to Mr Amponsah, the deceased told the wife that it was Gregory and Asanke, who poured the acid on him.
The deceased also mentioned the two accused persons, in the presence of neighbours, as the people who poured the acid on him.
The Chief State Attorney said Mr Adams was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Bolgatanga Hospital where he passed on.
Mr Amponsah said the Police proceeded to the crime scene and collected a gallon containing the residue of the alleged acid, a cup and clothes of the assailant.
He said the passenger and driver’s seats were soaked with the acid and a pair of tracksuit used by the accused was also picked up.
The items retrieved were sent to the Ghana Standard Board.
Afoko was picked up at about 0200 hours in his house and he led the Police to Asake’s house.
Asake was, however, not available. A post mortem conducted on the deceased by Dr Edusei indicates that Mr Adams died of extensive acid burns. Afoko has been remanded into lawful custody.
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