Seven of the people who have been accused of brutally murdering Major Maxwell Mahama at Denkyira-Obuasi (now New Obuasi) in the Central Region, are sweating for legal representations as full trial at an Accra high court looms.
This follows a decision by a defence lawyer, George Bernard Shaw, to cut down the number of the accused he could represent during the trial.
The legal practitioner had represented all the 14 persons who were committed by an Accra Central District Court to stand trial at the a high court, as well as eight others who were discharged because there was not enough evidence linking them to the crime.
Mr Shaw told the court yesterday that he had decided to represent five of the accused so that he could have the time to do a proper job.
He therefore, prayed the court and the prosecution to ensure that the others get legal representations as the trial commences.
Another private legal practitioner, Augustine Gyamfi, also announced himself to the court as counsel for Kwame Tuffuor and Michael Anin, leaving the remaining seven to sweat over who would represent them.
A chief state attorney, Evelyn Keelson, who is prosecuting the case, told the court that the prosecution was ready to commence the trial at the next adjourned date.
She prayed the court to issue a trial warrant to all the accused to enable the prison officers transport them to the court on days they would have to appear before it.
According to Ms Keelson, the suspects only had remand warrants and that is not enough for the prison officers to take them out of prison custody for trial.
The court, presided over by Justice Mariama Owusu, told the defence counsels to make sure they visit their clients and as well make sure the others who are yet to get lawyers do so.
She subsequently adjourned the case to March 5, 2018, when a panel is expected to be sworn in and a full trial set in motion.
Suspects
The 14 suspects were committed by an Accra Central District Court which found that there was enough substantial evidence against them to stand trial for the charges proffered against them.
They were among some 22 persons arraigned before the court charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
They are William Baah, Bernard Asamoah, Kofi Nyame, Akesi Baah, Kwame Tuffuor, Joseph Appiah Kubi, Michael Anin.
The rest are Bismark Donkor, John Boadi, Akwesi Asante, Charles Kenin, Emmanuel Baidoo, Bismark Aboagye and Kwadjo Animah.
State prosecutors have indicated that all the accused, except William Baah, assemblyman for the area, had been captured on videos during the gruesome murder.
The state also tendered in 53 exhibits and intends to call as many as 15 witnesses to testify in the matter.
Defence lawyers have also indicated that they would be calling a couple of witnesses of their own, including the police officers stationed at Diaso at the time of the murder.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak