The trial Judge in the case of two teenagers who allegedly killed an 11-year old boy in Kasoa in 2021 for money ritual has ordered two striking jurors to show up for the trial today.
Two of the seven-member jury, one of them the foreman, were absent yesterday and the court heard that they had joined a group of jurors who are on strike to protest the non-payment of their allowances.
Counsel for the second accused was expected to continue cross-examination of the prosecution’s third witness – mother of the first accused.
The case had to adjourn due to the absence of the two jurors as the court could not proceed without the full complement of the jury.
Justice Lydia Osei Marfo was not impressed by the decision of the two to join the strike, indicating that they are fresh jurors who are sitting in their first ever case so had no reason to join the old batch of striking jurors.
“It is not fair, I am disappointed,” Justice Marfo said, indicating that the court takes strong exception to the conduct of the two absent jurors.
She took the opportunity to remind other members of the jury that they have a duty to perform so once they are billed for a case, they are under obligation to show up for the trial.
Justice Marfo, therefore, ordered the jurors to be present today for the case to continue.
The two teenagers were committed by a Kaneshie Magistrate Court in August 2021 after it found that there was enough evidence for them to stand trial for the alleged murder of Ishmael Mensah Abdallah.
The court, during the committal proceedings, was shocked when one of the teenagers ‘confessed’ that they killed a pregnant woman prior to the gruesome killing of 11-year-old victim for money rituals.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, while one of them who is believed to be the prime suspect and had confessed to the crime during the committal proceedings, pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, but the court entered a plea of not guilty for him.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak