An Accra Central District Magistrate Court yesterday could not continue the trial of the case involving Yaw Anokye Frimpong and five others over the murder of the two African-Americans at Fihankra, near Akwamufie in the Eastern Region.
This was because of the inability of officers of the Ghana Prisons Service to bring the self-confessed accused person, Anokye Frimpong, 24, to court for trial.
Although no reasons were given for the absence of the accused who was in prison custody, the prosecution stated that they were expecting him in court.
George Bernard Shaw, representing the accused persons – Nana Appia-Nti III, mechanic; Brenda Kareema Mohammed, a pensioner and her son, Yazid Alazim Mohammed, businessman and Mensah Kamaugogo Muata, a surgeon assistant – told the court presided over by Ms. Veronique Praba Manfort, that he wanted a long adjournment.
He said the accused persons who are currently on bail, had at every court date been travelling from Akwamufie near Akosombo, to the court.
This, Mr. Shaw said, was taking a huge toll on the finances of his clients as they had to travel a day before court date and lodge at a hotel.
The trial magistrate however, said she was unable to grant the long adjournment because one of the accused persons,Anokye Frimpong, was in custody and as such could not go beyond 15 days.
Ms. Manfort further explained that the request of the lawyer would not have been a problem to the court, if his clients were the only accused persons in the case.
Sitting continues on September 14, 2015.
The accused persons are in the dock for conspiracy to murder and murder.
The prosecution, led by ASP Stephen Adjei, said that the accused persons, between 4 and 5 May, 2015, at Fihankra, did agree and acted together with a common criminal objective to murder Mamelina Diop, 75, and Nzinga Khaliya Jaana, 69.
It may be recalled that the Akosombo police mounted a search for the two deceased African-Americans after they were reported missing.
The search led to the discovery of freshly dug grave about 150 meters to Frimpong's maize farm, in which bodies of the deceased, who were pensioners from the American Civil Service, were discovered.
In a related development, the trial of Anokye in the murder of one Kwesi Oteng Asamoah could also not be heard.
Anokye is reported to have on April 12, 2008 entered the kitchen and picked a wooden crossbar which he allegedly used to murder the Asamoah.
The prosecution said the accused, armed with the implement, mentioned the name of Asamoah, stressing that 'as soon as he opened his door, Anokye struck him with the bar and dragged him back into his room.'
He said Asamoah, who sustained deep injuries, bled profusely and Anokye tied him with a cable and left him to his fate. He stole a pump action gun, GH¢930, Nokia N97 phone and a DVD player after which he took his bath in the house, changed into the dress of the deceased and left, according to the prosecution.
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson
[email protected]
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