I won’t defend J.B Danquah alleged ‘killers’ again – lawyer tells court 

Counsel for the accused persons in the murder of the former Abuakwa North MP, Joseph Boakye Danquah has bowed out of the case.

Augustines Obour appears to have run out of patience with his client whose incessant rants and admission of guilt make him a butt of jokes on social media.

After eight months’ absence, the former state prosecutor turned private legal practitioner came to court only to terminate his business with his clients who were arrested in 2016 for the alleged murder of the MP.

Although he attributed his absence to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, he told the court that he was more disappointed in the actions of the accused persons.

“I humbly wish to say that I have seen and heard on most media platforms where the first accused person (Daniel Asiedu) is making admission to the whole world, including jurors of his guilt.

“I, therefore, find it difficult to defend the accused person when he has already told the whole world [that he is guilty]. I am fully aware of the law which states that an accused person in a murder trial shall not plead guilty when his plea is being taken.

“I find it difficult to think how the jurors will find this case when the first accused person has confessed to the world,” Mr Obour explained as he made case for withdrawing his legal services to his client.

Mr Obour also pointed to the fact that for four years and counting, he has not been able to have a fruitful conference with the accused persons.

With a hand up, he said “I wanted to do my best in achieving justice in this matter but…”

A disappointed Accra High Court judge, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, agreed reluctantly.

“I respect your decision, however, I doubt if some of the reasons stated as grounds for withdrawal. In the first place, we are in an era of vibrant social media where anybody that coughs is put out in the public domain.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have control over that but we know those public statements do not establish a prima facie case until the prosecution is able to prove they are indeed guilty.

“Also, the jurors are yet to be empanelled and nobody knows who they could be. Moreover, the court warns them of any story they may have heard or seen on social media, except for evidence that will come out in court,” she stressed.

Court’s ruling

After hearing from the lawyer, the court formally endorsed Mr Obour’s decision to terminate his defence of the two accused persons—Daniel Asiedu and Vincent Bosso.

The court also directed that the Legal Aid Scheme be informed of the latest developments and the two accused persons assigned a new lawyer before their next court date.

The case continues on December 16, 2020.

At the last sitting, Daniel Asiedu had accused prison officers of subjecting him to torture.

Asiedu, also known as Sexy Don, said he was being tortured and treated unfairly by the prison officers for no just reason.

Asiedu said after his transfer from police custody to the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons, officials of the prison “charged him with the possession of a phone and a knife, knowing very well such items are not permitted in the facility.”

According to the suspect, he was being constantly monitored and has been prevented from exercising.

Facts

The provisional facts of the prosecution were that the former MP lived with his family at Shiashie, near East Legon, a suburb of Accra.

The accused person’s Daniel Asiedu and Vincent Bosso lived at Agbogbloshie, also in Accra.

According to the prosecution, between February 8 and 9, 2019, the late legislator was chauffeured home in his private car.

The driver handed over the ignition keys of the car to Mr Danquah-Adu and left for home, after which the MP retired to bed in a room located on the first floor of his house.

On February 9, 2016, at about 1 am, Asiedu and Bosso, armed with a catapult, cutter and sharp knife, went to the legislator’s house.

Bosso is said to have assisted Asiedu to enter the house by scaling the wall on the blind side of a security man who was fast asleep.

On entering the house, Asiedu picked a ladder and climbed onto a porch on the top floor and entered the MP’s bedroom through a window while Mr Danquah-Adu was sleeping.

While Asiedu was searching the room, the MP woke up and held him. A struggle ensued during which Asiedu stabbed the MP in the right chest above the breast.

The MP consequently held the knife and Asiedu pulled it through his hand, leaving a deep cut in his palm.

The legislator bled profusely and fell by his bed, after which Asiedu stabbed him several times in his right chest and neck.

On realising that the MP was dying, Asiedu left the room and took with him three iPhones and absconded with his accomplice.

Asiedu, popularly known as ‘Sexy Don Don’ and Bosso, have since been charged with murder and abetment of crime in the murder of the late MP.

They both pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit robbery. Asiedu, on the other hand, has pleaded not guilty to murder and robbery.

Four years after the gruesome murder of the former MP, justice is yet-to-be served in the case which happened in 2016.