Gregory Afoko
Lawyer for Gregory Afoko, who is facing trial for allegedly murdering the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Adams Mahama, has been given one last chance by an Accra High Court to present the last witness.
The court earlier warned the lawyer to present the second and last witness in court yesterday or else the case would be closed for both the prosecution and defence to file their addresses.
But the court granted a prayer by the defence to give them up to Thursday, January 24, 2019 to present the witness whose evidence would be brief.
Benedicta Antwi, who held the brief for Osafo Buabeng, lead counsel for Afoko, prayed the court for the adjournment, stating that they had made efforts to get the witness who would only be available on January 24, 2019.
She told the court that the defence would close its case if the witness fails to appear before the court to give testimony.
Annette Barnes, who held brief for the prosecutor, Mathew Amponsah, a chief state attorney, said the state would not oppose the adjournment sought by the defence.
The court, presided over by Justice Lawrence L. Mensah, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, reluctantly adjourned the matter to January 24, 2019.
He said the prosecution presented 14 witnesses so the accused should also be given the chance to present just two witnesses to defend himself.
The judge therefore gave the defence a second chance to present the second and last witness on the date suggested.
Gregory Afoko is on trial at An Accra High Court for allegedly murdering the Upper East Regional Chairman of the NPP by pouring acid on him in 2015.
The state has called 14 prosecution witnesses, who have all testified in the matter that has been in court for the past three years.
Afoko, who opened his defence December last year, vehemently denied killing the lawmaker, who suffered severe burns as a result of acid poured on him in his car.
His senior brother, Isaac Afoko, the first defence witness, corroborated the accused person’s testimony that he was home on the night the incident happened and had nothing to do with it.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak