The late Major Maxwell Mahama
The family of the late Major Maxwell Mahama is livid about the fact that only 14 people have been put before court over the gruesome murder of their beloved son at Denkyira Obuasi (now New Obuasi) where he was on detachment duty.
According to them, about 50 people were identified in the videos that popped up after the soldier was lynched by the mob.
Zakaria Sakara Ahmed, spokesperson for the family, in an interview with the press after court proceeding yesterday, said “we actually have been expecting that we will have more people facing trial than we have. Looking at what we saw in the videos and the number of people that were arrested at the beginning we thought that we would have more people facing trial.
“We had a mob action, we expect to have mob trial. Let the court look at everybody, let them come to the court and defend themselves, come and explain their presence at the scene on that day. Unfortunately, you know this is not what happened and we cannot hold the police responsible,” Mr Ahmed indicated.
He, however, pointed out that they will not overlook the court process.
Mr. Amed, who was in court together with Captain (Rtd) Dennis Adam Mahama, father of the late soldier, as well other family members, indicated that the family was planning to organise a befitting one year anniversary for the late Major Mahama.
Trial
Fourteen suspects were committed by an Accra Central District Court, which found that there was enough substantial evidence against them.
The accused persons were among some 22 persons arraigned before the court on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Jury
The judge indicated that she will not approve jurors who would soon retire.
According to Justice Mariama Owusu, she understands some of the jurors are 58 years old and some months away from the statutory retirement age.
She said she will not risk starting the trial all over again because of the age of jurors.
Justice Mariama Owusu therefore urged the Judicial Service to look for 15 jurors who could be chosen to hear the matter.
No lawyers
Five of the 14 suspects arraigned before the court are still struggling to get representation.
Appearing before the court yesterday, George Bernard Shaw, who is representing some of the accused persons, told the court that he was working with some committed human rights lawyers who are willing to represent the remaining suspects.
He said he would speak to the Ghana Bar Association to get lawyers for the suspects.
The judge urged both the defence and the prosecution to ensure that the remaining suspects get legal representation or she will be compelled to assign them lawyers at the next sitting.
Suspects
The 14, who are standing trial for allegedly lynching the late soldier are William Baah, Bernard Asamoah, Kofi Nyame, Akwesi Baah, Kwame Tuffuor, Joseph Appiah Kubi and Michael Anin.
The rest are Bismark Donkor, John Boadi, Akwesi Asante, Charles Kenin, Emmanuel Baidoo, Bismark Aboagye and Kwadjo Animah.
State prosecutors indicated that all the suspects except William Baah, Assemblyman for the area, were captured on tape during the gruesome murder.
The state also tendered in 53 exhibits and intends to call 15 witnesses to testify in the matter.
Defence lawyers have also indicated that they would call a few witnesses, including the police officers stationed at Diaso at the time of the murder.
Background
Major Maxwell Mahama was allegedly killed by 14 suspects and others who are still at large at Denkyira Obuasi where he was on detachment duties.
The deceased army captain was on a 20-kilometre walk when he was reportedly mistaken for a thief by some women from whom he stopped to buy snails.
The women, who thought he was an armed robber after spotting his official pistol, called the assembly man in the area to raise an alarm.
The assembly man quickly mobilized people in the town to lynch the soldier and later burnt parts of his body.
By Gibril Abdul Razak