By Beatrice Oppon & Priscilla Owusu Ansah
The trial of Daniel Asiedu, the alleged murderer of former MP for Abuakwa North Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu, will be concluded on December 4, 2024, when the Accra High Court delivers judgment.
The trial has lasted more than eight years. The former MP was killed on February 9, 2016 at his residence at Shiashie in Accra.
The prosecution concluded cross examination of the accused, who began his testimony on May 13.
A seven-member jury will give its verdict after the judge, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, gives a summary of the trial.
The accused insisted in defence that he is innocent of the crime. Asiedu is facing murder and robbery charges. After the prosecution closed its case, Counsel for the accused, Yaw Dankwah, filed a Submission of No Case, claiming that the state failed to establish the guilt of Asiedu, so the court should discharge him.
The Court, however, held that prima facie evidence had been established against him and ordered the accused to open his defence. Asiedu did not call any witnesses in his defence.
He denied claims by the Prosecution led by Principal State Attorney Sefakor Batsa that he admitted to the crime and knelt beside the bed of the late former MP and begged for forgiveness from the deceased. The prosecution, in proving its case against the accused, tendered in a video recording of the re-enactment of the crime scene where he allegedly demonstrated how he entered the room of the deceased and subsequently robbed and killed him.
Asiedu has in his defence debunked that, stating that he was compelled by the police to do the reconstruction of the crime and further admit to the murder. He claimed he went to the police station to lodge a complaint after an incident at Agbogbloshie in Accra but was rather arrested and accused of the murder of JB Danquah Adu.
His lawyer, Yaw Dankwah, said he is confident of the defence they have put up so far.
