Afoko Trial: State presents 11th witness

The Prosecution in the case involving the murder trial of Gregory Afoko has presented Mr Peter Quarter Papafio as its 11th Prosecution witness.

Mr Quartey, is a forensic toxicologist and a Chemist at the Ghana Standards Authority.

The witness told the court presided over by Justice Afua Merley Wood, Court of Appeal’s Judge, sitting as a High Court Judge, that at the GSA he analysed post mortem samples from the hospitals.

He also said he analyses samples from the security agencies to ascertain the type of substance or content of exhibits.

Mr Quartey in his evidence in chief, said, “I also tender in analytical reports and exhibits at the law courts and responsible for analytical reports and submitting the findings to the security agencies and various hospitals after the analysis.”

He said on the morning of May 28, 2015, he was called by the Head of Department to receive a sample /exhibit from an investigator by name Detective Chief Inspector Augustus Nkrumah of the CID Headquarters.

He said upon the receipt of the exhibits at the reception, he then proceeded to analyse and perform an examination to find out the results and contents of the exhibits.

The witness said the analysis was performed on May 28, 2015, and completed on May 29,2015, where he wrote the report on June 1, 2015, and signed approved by the Head of Department of the Drug, Cosmetics and Forensics Department.

“The letter head of the GSA was signed by Charles Amoako for the then Director General and returned to the investigator in charge of the case,” he said.

Answering a question from Afoko’s counsel, Mr Andrews Vortia, the witness, said the type of colour of the sulphuric acid found was a brownish liquid substance.

Asked whether apart from sulphuric acid being corrosive, could it be fatal, the witness answered in the affirmative saying upon contact with a sulphuric acid of 93 per cent or 16.89 molar, it could cause death.

The Counsel asked the witness that apart from examining the samples, did his job go beyond identifying who wore a particular dress or who does not and who held a particular cup or who did not, but the witness answered in the negative.

“My job Is to analysis or examine the exhibit,” he added.

He said when he received the samples for examination, he was not aware of how it was collected but he only knew they were submitted by the Police.

The witness said because of the corrosive nature of the acid he wore a latext gloves to protect his hands from burns.

He agreed with the Counsel that he would have suffered some burns if the acid had encountered his skin and clothing.

Mr Quartey said, who ever pulled the deceased out of the car should have some burns because acid was all over him.

The case had been adjourned to January 27, 2022, for continuation.