By Beatrice Oppon & Priscilla Owusu Ansah
The Accra High Court has waived the sitting allowance and transportation grant of jurors hearing the trial of two teenage boys accused of killing a ten-year-old boy for alleged ritual purposes following the absence of a juror.
The judge Justice Lydia Osei Marfo condemned the behaviour of the absentee juror, Harry Don Attipoe, which led to another adjournment of the case, which was scheduled for completion today.
The case, which is near completion, has suffered several adjournments, mostly at the instance of the jury.
Family of the deceased Ismael Mensah Abdallah has expressed frustration over the incessant adjournment.
When the case was called for hearing, the court noticed that the jury was not properly constituted for the day’s work, following which the Foreman explained that the said juror is out of the jurisdiction and therefore unable to be present for the trial.
Justice Osei Marfo who had warned at a previous sitting to fine any juror who failed to attend court, then proceeded to fine the absentee juror one thousand two hundred Ghana cedis.
A defence lawyer Samuel Atua, however, pleaded with the court to waive the fine, explaining it would further delay the case if the offending juror is unable to pay, but Justice Osei Marfo threatened to issue a bench warrant if the said juror does not avail himself.
She eventually rescinded the fine after his colleague jurors agreed to waive their allowances and transportation for the day’s sitting. Hearing adjourned to Thursday, October 24.