Eric Kojo Dua, the young man who allegedly shot and killed two police officers at Budumburam near Kasoa in 2019, has once again been denied bail by an Accra High Court.
Counsel for the accused on Tuesday moved a repeat application for bail, praying the court to grant his client bail pending the trial, which is scheduled to commence in November, arguing that the accused has been in custody for the past three calendar years.
Eric Kojo Dua is facing two charges of murder while Michael Sarfo Ani has been charged with abetment of murder. They were committed by a Kaneshie Magistrate Court which found that the evidence against them was enough for them to stand trial.
The accused during their maiden appearance before the High Court pleaded not guilty and were remanded into custody.
His lawyers have tried on several occasions to secure bail for him, but the moves were opposed by the prosecution, which argues that the accused person is a flight risk and will not show up for the trial when granted bail.
He even went to the Court of Appeal on one occasion to secure the bail, but was urged to return to the High Court to make his case before the trial judge.
Mr. Obour on Tuesday moved a repeat application for bail and assured the court that the accused will avail himself for the trial when granted bail.
The application was opposed by Nana Ama Prempeh, a State Attorney, who said the accused is standing trial for the crucial offence of murder and judging by his conduct, he should not be granted bail to enable him go home.
She acknowledged that bail is at the discretion of the court and therefore, urged the court to set conditions that will compel the accused to appear for the trial if the court was minded to grant him bail.
Justice Elfreda Dankyi, the trial judge, in her ruling held that this being a repeat bail application, counsel for the accused was expected to demonstrate that substantial and special circumstances exist to warrant the grant of bail.
She stated that having perused the affidavit, the motion and the supporting affidavit, it was her opinion that the motion did not demonstrate any substantial or exceptional circumstances, and subsequently dismissed it, thereby extending his remand, and adjourned the case to August 9, 2022 for mentioning due to the legal vacation.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak