This was after lawyer Martin Kpebu, counsel for the 18-year-old young offender objected to the tendering of an investigation cautioned statement obtained from his client.

A 15-year-old juvenile and an 18-year-old young offender (both names withheld) have been charged for conspiracy and murder and are standing trial.

In court on Monday, June 19, 2023, Detective Chief Inspector Japhet Agyemang, an investigator stationed at the Kasoa Divisional Headquarters of the Ghana Police Service was in court to testify as the Fifth Prosecution Witness.

Detective Agyemang had given a chronological account of what his team’s investigations unravelled and was also tendering in a lot evidence exhibits including photographs taken of the crime scene and cautioned statements obtained from the accused persons.

But, his tendering of the investigation cautioned statement obtained from the 18-year-old 2nd accused was met with an objection from his lawyer Martin Kpebu.

According to the counsel, his client (2nd Accused) objects to the tendering of the statement on the grounds that, he did not give that statement voluntarily and it cannot be admitted.

Nana Ama Adomah Osei, a Senior State Attorney, representing the prosecution while responding to the objection, expressed surprise at counsel’s request.

“I’m supervised that counsel is objecting to the tendering of this statement,” stated, Adding that, “this statement is not a confession statement so I do not know for what basis counsel is stating that the statement was not given voluntarily,” the State Prosecutor argued.

But, Lawyer Kpebu in a rebuttal pointed to Section 120 of the Evidence Act to justify his objection.

Lawyers of the the 15-year-old juvenile led by Samuel Atuah, did not object to their client’s cautioned statement.

By Court

The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei, after listening to the parties, suspended the substantive case and ordered for a mini trial to be conducted to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the allegations raised.

“Counsel for the 2nd Accused person raised objection to the cautioned statement (obtained from his client) on April 4, 2021 on the basis that the same was taking involuntary,” the court stated.

“This being so, the main trial is suspended and court will take evidence in the mini trial to ascertain the circumstances this statement was alleged to have been taken,” Justice Osei ruled.

The jury has been excused from the mini-trial set to commence on Tuesday, June 20.

Not guilty plea

While the 15-year-old accused had confessed to their involvement in the murder from the District Court, the 18-year-old accused has, however, denied his involvement.

However, taking their pleas on charges of conspiracy and murder before the trial court, the 15-year-old accused pleaded guilty to the charge or conspiracy but pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder.

The 18-year-old accused on the other hand pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Justice Osei Marfo’s court, however, entered a plea of not guilty for the 15-year-old accused because the offence was conspiracy to murder and as a result, had to be tried by the jury.

The charges were read to them in their preferred local languages.

Jury

The jury is made up of seven ordinary, but educated persons, who, subject to the directions of the judge, will decide the guilt or innocence of the accused in a case tried upon indictment.

After the seven-member jury had been empanelled, they were sworn in and they chose one of their own as a leader (foreman).

They are expected to arrive at a unanimous verdict which is binding on the court.

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The trial judge became emotional while reading the brief facts of the case in her ruling, indicating that the Court will now conduct a jury trial for the two teenagers who are being held for killing Abdallah.

Referring to a section of the facts which indicated that when one of the accused struck Abdallah with a club in the head and the deceased asked for forgiveness if he had wronged them, the trial judge then paused, lifted her spectacles, and used her handkerchief to wipe tears from her eyes.

“I am sorry,” the Judge told the audience in the courtroom.

The Court had earlier held that it was going to handle the trial summarily, but when sitting resumed, it ruled that the trial would be done by jury.

According to the Court, if they are found guilty at the end of the trial, they would be handed over to the Juvenile court for sentencing.

The matter has been adjourned to July 5.

The accused, including a minor (name withheld) who is also a school dropout and another has been charged with conspiracy to murder and murder.

The two teens were said to have murdered Ishmael Mensah Abdallah on April 3, 2021, for ritual purposes, after they lured him into an uncompleted building and killed him with a club and cement block.