A repeat application for bail filed by Eric Kojo Duah, the man standing trial for the murder of two police officers at Kasoa has been dismissed.
The court presided over by Justice Elfreda Dankyi held that for a repeat application to succeed, the applicant “must demonstrate new substantial and special circumstances.”
With his latest application, the court held that no new substantial circumstances were demonstrated.
It was the case of defence counsel Augustines Obour that, his client (Kojo Duah) has been in custody for three calender years since 2019.
He argued that, with the trial likely to start in October, “We pray that you exercise your discretion in our favour and grant us bail.”
Lawyer Obour added that “We are ready to avail ourselves to stand trial.”
State prosecutors oppose the application for the grant of bail, pointing to the severity of the offense.
“We rely on our affidavit in opposition and all the processes filed. We do not intend to waste the court’s time by going through the facts of the matter as this is a murder.
“We however want to reiterate that this is murder and the applicant should not be allowed to go home and…it is a serious crime as it is evident by his conduct in this court,” the State Attorney argued.
“We acknowledged that the court has a discretion and if the court is minded to grant, the court should set conditions that will compel him to stand trial.”
The court after listening to the parties dismissed the application and adjourned the case to August 9, 2022, for mention.
Kojo Duah is facing two charges of murder and has pleaded not guilty while Michael Osafo Ani is facing two charges of Abetment. The two are still in lawful custody
On November 11, 2021, a seven-member jury comprised of five females and two males were empanelled.
Duah allegedly shot and killed the two police officers on the Kasoa-Buduburam-Aprah road in August 2019.
He is being held on two counts of murder for allegedly shooting and killing General Lance Corporal Mohammed Awal and Lance Corporal Michael Dzamesi, who were on task force duty on the Kasoa-Buduburam-Accra road on August 28, 2019.
The Prosecution had told that court that the officers allegedly asked Duah, who was driving an unregistered vehicle, to stop but he ignored them.
According to the prosecution, the officers chased him with their Service vehicle and Duah allegedly pulled a pistol from his car and shot them in turns.
Awal the prosecution said died instantly but Dzamesi was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the hospital.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/Murtala Inusah