Gregory Afoko
The senior brother of Gregory Afoko, who is facing trial for allegedly murdering the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Adams Mahama, yesterday shocked an Accra High Court when he told the court that he does not talk to his brother.
John Ishmael Afoko, who was called to testify for Gregory Afoko, said he does not get along with his brother who always quarrels with him at home.
He told the court he should have been a happy man that his brother had been arrested by the police to give him some freedom and peace of mind.
John Ishmael Afoko, therefore, told the court that he has no reason to lie to the court to save someone he does get along with.
His statement follows accusation by the prosecution, led by Mathew Amponsah, a chief state attorney that he was deceiving the court in order to save his younger brother.
“The accused person and I don’t get along. Because when he was around we were always picking one quarrel or the other. So I should be happy he has been taken away from the house and I have my freedom. Why should I lie to free him?” the witness quizzed.
Gregory Afoko has been arraigned before an Accra High Court for allegedly murdering the Upper East Regional Chairman of the NPP in 2015.
The state has so far called 14 prosecution witnesses who have all testified in the matter that has been in court for the past three years.
Afoko opened his defence in December last year and vehemently denied killing Adams who suffered severe burns after acid was poured on him in his car.
Isaac Afoko is his first defence witness for the accused.
He corroborated the accused person’s testimony that he was home on the night of the incident and therefore has nothing to do with the murder.
He told the court that Gregory Afoko was responsible for taking care of their father who was sick and bedridden although he takes care of him in his absence.
The witness and prosecution disagreed on the time the witness went to bed on the fateful night.
He, however, told the court that he went to bed about three minutes after 8pm that night but the prosecutor put to him that he was not being truthful to the court.
Mr. Amponsah put it to the witness that Gregory Afoko returned after 11pm.
The witness, however, denied the assertion, insisting that his brother got home few minutes after 8pm.
The court, presided over by Justice Lawrence L. Mensah, adjourned the matter for Afoko to call his next witness.
By Gibril Abdul Razak