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On April 18, 2023, the High Court in Accra will decide whether or not the charged and cautioned statements taken from Daniel Asiedu, the man accused of killing late Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa North, Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu, are admissible.
Following a defense objection, the substantive trial before Her Ladyship Judge Lydia Osei Marfo of the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court has been postponed for a mini-trial.
Asiedu alias Sexy Don Don claims, via his attorneys, including Lawyer Yaw Danquah, that he did not voluntarily provide the charged and cautioned comments that the prosecution attempted to use as evidence in the trial.
According to the legislation, the court must hold a mini-trial to determine whether the charges made are true before the substantive trial can begin.
In the instance of Sexy Don Don, the investigators utilized various levels of pressure, intimidation, and violence to force him to accept what was being offered to him.
Additionally, he said that the investigators had compelled him to thumbprint the statements and forced him to sign them.
As a result, he pleaded with the court not to accept the statements that Chief Inspector Augustine Nkrumah planned to present as evidence.
Nevertheless, the prosecution, which was led by Mrs Sefakor Batse, a principal state attorney, called the detectives and other witnesses who were present when those statements were brought to court to testify, vigorously refuted his claims.
It was the prosecution’s argument during the mini-trial that the defendant freely provided the police with his remarks while under the observation of a neutral witness, who then translated for him into a language he could understand.
During the cross-examination, the prosecution called attention to the contradictions in the accused’s testimony.
The second accused, Vincent Bossu, who was cross-examined and has been charged with Asiedu for abetment, provided a similar narrative.
Judge Osei Marfo has set April 18 for the delivery of her decision following the conclusion of the mini-trial, following which the substantive trial would proceed.
Sexy Don Don is also accused with robbery in a different case.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
