An Accra High Court hearing the murder case of the late J.B. Danquah Adu, a former Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North, has adjourned the trial.
The suspension of the trial is to allow the court to conduct a mini-trial regarding all the statements of the two accused persons - Daniel Asieda and Vincent Bossa, which were taken at the police station.
Mr. Raymond Felli, who represented Mr. Yawa Dankwah for the accused person, objected to the presentation of the statements of the accused persons by the investigating officer of the case, Detective Chief Inspector Augustus Nkrumah.
Detective Chief Inspector Nkrumah led by Mrs. Sefakor Batsa, the Chief Public Prosecutor, was to take the statements of the accused persons during his evidence.
Mr. Felli objected to the offering of the statements of the accused persons, saying that the statements were made under duress, threat and inhumane conditions.
Ms Batsa, who represented the State, said the statements made by the witness (Chief Inspector Nkrumah) in the depositions were made voluntarily and in the presence of independent witnesses.
According to her, the accused attached their signatures even after their verification.
She said the statements were made in accordance with the provisions of the Evidence Act.
Ms Batsa claimed the defense counsel's objection was "just a ploy to delay the smooth running of this case".
The court, presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, ruled that “in view of the objection raised by the counsel for the accused persons, a mini-trial must be conducted to ascertain the circumstances of all the statements of the two accused persons taken by the police of the police station
This exercise is to be dealt with only by the court. The trial is adjourned and the jury is dismissed.
Daniel Asiedu, the first person charged, is on trial for the alleged cold-blooded murder of the late Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North at his Shaishie residence in February 2016.
Asiedu is on trial with Vincent Bossu.
Asiedu was charged with murder and robbery.
Bossu and Asiedu are being held together on conspiracy charges.
They pleaded not guilty before a seven-member jury.
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