The trial of the Ghanaian superstar, Daasebre Gyamenah, has been declared a mis-trial as the jury could not come to a unanimous decision.
The jury had been sent out to delibrate a verdict yesterday, 21st of November, 2006, and could not reach a decision then which led to the case being adjourned till the next day.
The presiding Judge MacGregor-Johnson had no choice but to dismiss the jury after the foreman declared that even with more time they will not be able to reach a majority verdict of 10 - 2 after failing to reach a unanimous decision on three previous deliberations.
This has been a very intruiging case where the high-life star is charged with smuggling cocaine to the tune of 770grammes worth just under £85,000 into the UK.
Daasebre arrived at Heathrow in the early hours of Thursday the 29th of June from Accra. He was sniffed out by a police dog and stopped by a female customs and excise officer, Regina Connaught.
At the trial, forensic scientist and prosecution witness, Ian McGuiness confirmed on the stand that none of the fingerprints on the suit-cases where the drugs were so expertly hidden belonged to Daasebre Gyamenah.
Daasebre took to the stand wearing a striped shirt and a chourdrouy jacket, spoke very softly and quietly and appeared very pensive and tired. He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution also called to the stand Mr Vora, a customs officer and Mr Donkor of Kumasi Market in Peckham, SE London.
The defence counsel, Barrister Joe Stone, pointed out to the jury in his closing remarks that the reality of the case was not whether Daasebre brought the narcotics in from Ghana but the issue here was whether he knowingly did so.
The musician sat forlonly with slumped shoulders behind a glass screen constantly staring at the floor and occasionaly talking to his interpreter. Daasebre declined the opportunity for a bail application.
The 12th of March, 2007 has been set as the re-trial date with 12 fresh jury members.
The trial of the Ghanaian superstar, Daasebre Gyamenah, has been declared a mis-trial as the jury could not come to a unanimous decision.
The jury had been sent out to delibrate a verdict yesterday, 21st of November, 2006, and could not reach a decision then which led to the case being adjourned till the next day.
The presiding Judge MacGregor-Johnson had no choice but to dismiss the jury after the foreman declared that even with more time they will not be able to reach a majority verdict of 10 - 2 after failing to reach a unanimous decision on three previous deliberations.
This has been a very intruiging case where the high-life star is charged with smuggling cocaine to the tune of 770grammes worth just under £85,000 into the UK.
Daasebre arrived at Heathrow in the early hours of Thursday the 29th of June from Accra. He was sniffed out by a police dog and stopped by a female customs and excise officer, Regina Connaught.
At the trial, forensic scientist and prosecution witness, Ian McGuiness confirmed on the stand that none of the fingerprints on the suit-cases where the drugs were so expertly hidden belonged to Daasebre Gyamenah.
Daasebre took to the stand wearing a striped shirt and a chourdrouy jacket, spoke very softly and quietly and appeared very pensive and tired. He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution also called to the stand Mr Vora, a customs officer and Mr Donkor of Kumasi Market in Peckham, SE London.
The defence counsel, Barrister Joe Stone, pointed out to the jury in his closing remarks that the reality of the case was not whether Daasebre brought the narcotics in from Ghana but the issue here was whether he knowingly did so.
The musician sat forlonly with slumped shoulders behind a glass screen constantly staring at the floor and occasionaly talking to his interpreter. Daasebre declined the opportunity for a bail application.
The 12th of March, 2007 has been set as the re-trial date with 12 fresh jury members.
