Afoko Trial: I would not accept any further excuses - Judge

The trial Court in the case involving Gregory Afoko, accused of murdering the former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Tuesday said it would not accept any further excuses from the prosecution on the unavailability of its next witness.

He said the court would accept to adjourn the case today but subsequently it would not accept any excuses.

The court made this observation after the prosecution led by Mr Mathew Amponsah told the court that the next witness Dr Lawrence Adusei, the Pathologist, could not be present in court today.

He said he did his best with the intention to get him to come to court today as directed by the court on the last adjourned date, but he was still insisting that he should be given some more time.

The prosecution prayed the court that the witness said the report was still not ready and would need the two weeks he asked for at the last sitting.

The defence counsel led by Mr Osafo Boabeng, said he had no objection to the request of the prosecution.

Justice Lawrence L. Mensah said the favour to the pathologist not to be present in court today and the rest of the week was a great inconvenience to the court.

“The court would accept the adjournment prayed for by the pathologist to July 18, however, the court would not accept any further excuses for adjournment after this date,” he said.

The case has since been adjourned to July 18 and 19, for continuation.

At the previous sitting the twelfth prosecution witness was discharged and the prosecution was expected to present the next witness

The prosecution has so far called 12 witnesses including Hajia Adams, Madam Issaka, Quinn, Taufic, Dominic, Awafo, Thomas, Benjamin, James, Peter, Sampson and Charles. They intend to call three more witnesses.

Afoko, a farmer, is alleged to have killed Mr Mahama on May 20, 2015, and he is being held on the charges of conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder and murder.

He has pleaded not guilty before the Court, which is also composed of a seven-member jury.

It was alleged that Afoko carried out the act with Alandgi Asabke, who is on the run.