J.B. Murder: Lawyers for suspects tell jury to visit scene

Counsel for the accused persons in the murder trial of former Abuakwa North MP Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu has requested jury members to be allowed to visit the deceased’s residence.

On Monday, May 10, Yaw Dankwa told the Accra High Court that his cross-examination of the second prosecution witness would require the seven-member jury to visit the crime scene.

The second prosecution witness is Stephen Apraku Mensah. The witness is the security man at the late MP’s residence, testifying in the trial where Daniel Asiedu, also known as Sexy Don Don, has been charged with murder and Vincent Bosso slapped with abetment.

But the court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo directed counsel for the accused persons to make a formal application before the next court date, May 26.

At the last adjourned date, Apraku gave his account of happenings that led to the MP’s death.

He told the court he panicked when he saw a ladder placed beside the building leading to the late Abuakwa North MP’s bedroom.

According to him, the ladder’s position was strange as it was kept at a different location before the night of the murder.

Prior to Apraku’s testimony on Thursday, May 6, the driver of the late MP, Samuel Berko Sarkodie, also testified.

The Accra High Court has since discharged the first prosecution witness.

READ ALSO: I said Goodbye only to hear of his death 2 hours later – Driver

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 persons’ Daniel Asiedu and Vincent Bosso, lived at Agbogbloshie, also in Accra.

According to the prosecution, between February 8 and 9, 2016, 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 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.