INSANE! Eric Kojo Duah
A lawyer defending Eric Kojo Dua — the main suspect in the murder of two police officers at Buduburam near Kasoa — has requested psychiatric evaluation for his client claiming he may not be sane.
According to the lawyer, George Eshun, it is unimaginable for a person in his right senses to pull a gun and kill the two officers in such a manner.
He told the Kaneshie Magistrate Court in Accra yesterday that he has known the suspect since he was a child and that he was a humble bloke and cannot fathom how he could have killed the policemen.
He suggested that the death of the accused person’s mother might have affected him and he (lawyer) thinks an evaluation will put his suspicions to rest.
Opposition
The prosecution led by ASP Sylvester Asare opposed the request of the lawyer over the accused person’s ‘insanity’ and expressed surprise that counsel could advance such an argument.
He wondered the basis for the defence lawyer’s suspicion that Kojo Duah may not be sane and said the fact that someone is charged with murder cannot be a reason for such a request.
He urged the defence lawyer to confer with his client and avoid wasting the court’s time.
Ruling
The presiding Magistrate Rosemond Agyiri turned down the request for the psychiatric evaluation. She indicated that the accused person has so far not shown any sign of insanity.
The magistrate also pointed out that Mr. Eshun had informed the court that he is yet to have conference with his client since taking over the case and cannot claim the accused person is insane just like that.
Dropping Charges
Yesterday, the prosecution dropped charges against Michael Osafo Ani leaving Kojo Duah and Theophilus Acheampong to face charges of abetment and murder of the two policemen.
The defence counsel had pointed out to the court that the facts of the case read by prosecution only mentions that the second accused person (Theophilus Acheampong) was only in the car with Duah and drove the car away at a point.
He insisted he’s not clear in his mind how that amounted to any crime for which reason he should be charged.
Seven persons were initially arrested but six were later freed and another two namely Michael Osafo Ani and Theophilus Acheampong as brought in to join Kojo Duah on trial for killing of the two officers.
Deadly Scenario
The suspect on August 28 shot and killed Sgt. Michael Dzamasi, a service driver, and L/Cpl Awal Mohammed— both personnel of the Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) detachment at Kasoa in the Central Region.
They were said to be on Task Force duties on the Kasoa-Winneba highway when the main suspect, Kojo Duah and the other three suspects also on trial, on board an unregistered Toyota Camry blatantly ignored the signal of the officers to stop and sped off.
Other events led to Eric Duah shooting and killing both officers who have since been laid to rest.
Kojo Duah was on the run after the deadly incident and was later arrested on the Senchi Bridge on Saturday, August 31, in the Eastern Region.
He is reported to have said he killed Sgt. Dzamesi out of revenge for the death of his mother because he was convinced that the deceased was responsible for it.
The case was adjourned to November 12.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak