THE LAWYER representing the two teenagers who are alleged to have killed an 11-year-old boy at Kasoa in the Central Region has parted ways with one of the accused persons, urging him to find another lawyer to represent him.
Samuel Atuah, appearing before the court yesterday, indicated that after having conference with the accused who have been charged with murder, Felix Nyarko was willing to admit to the offence while Nicholas Kini, denies the charges.
He said “in view of that, and for the interest of the accused persons, I wouldn’t be able to represent both of them.”
Mr. Atuah told the court that he can only represent Felix Nyarko, and indicated that Nicholas Kini would have to find another lawyer to represent him.
The court was yesterday expected to empanel a seven-member jury to hear the case of the two teenagers who allegedly killed the young boy for ritual purposes.
The court, presided over Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, indicated that the concern had been raised so belatedly but agreed with counsel that a new lawyer has to be made available to Nicholas Kini.
She, therefore, ordered the Legal Aid Commission to appoint a lawyer either externally or within to represent Nicholas Kini.
Meanwhile, the court has indicated that the pool of prospective jurors has been provided by the court, and all is set for the empanelling of the jury.
She, therefore, adjourned the case to today for a seven-member jury to be empanelled for the trial.
Felix Nyarko and Nicholas Kini were committed by a Kaneshie Magistrate Court last year August 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 Ishmael Mensah Abdallah for money rituals.
Felix Nyarko, who made the revelation, was surprised his accomplice Kini was not willing to confess to the crime, insisting before open court that this was not the first time they had killed.
Nyarko also told the court how he had seen the ghost of the young boy (Abdallah), who threatened to kill him if he fails to confess to the crime.
The murder of the eleven-year-old boy stunned the nation when graphic pictures of the deceased in the midst of an angry crowd being prevented by the police from lynching the teenagers, went viral on social media and on mainstream media.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak