J.B. Danquah’s family upset over delay in prosecution of suspect

The family of murdered Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North constituency, Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu, have expressed disappointment over how issues of their kinsman is being handled in court.

According to them, prosecution of the arrested suspect is delaying – they insisted that authorities must accelerate proceedings to bring justice.

The Danquah family made this known when they visited former President John Jerry Rawlings at his residence in Accra on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 to officially inform him about final funeral rites for the late MP.

“We have stopped short of making political utterances hoping that all will be well with the investigations. In a situation like this the police has a duty, we believe to let the family or Ghanaians know where they [police] are getting to,” - Family head of the late J.B. Danquah, George Amoah said.

The NPP lawmaker was stabbed to death at his Shiashie residence last month – the police during their investigation arrested one suspect, Daniel Asiedu, a 19-year-old boy.

The suspect allegedly used a ladder to climb to a roof linking to a porch and then entered the MP's bedroom through a window and stabbed him - he is facing prosecution.

The charges

According to the charge sheet seen by Peacefmonline.com, the 19-year-old suspect was charged based on his own confession that he committed the gruesome act.

The Police averred that the suspect “intentionally” and “unlawfully” caused the death of the MP.

The charge sheet said: “For that you on 9th February, 2016 at about 1:00am at Shiashie, East Legon in the Greater Accra Magisterial District and within the jurisdiction of this court, did intentionally and unlawfully cause the death of Hon. Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu, MP for Abuakwa North in the Eastern Region.”

Investigations also indicate that Daniel Asiedu has confessed to committing the crime.

Psychiatric examination

The Accra District Court Monday shot down an application by counsel for Daniel Asiedu, for the accused to be sent to a psychiatric facility for examination.

The court, presided over by Mr Stephen Owusu, also refused a request for the accused to be removed from the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) into police custody.

This is the second time the court has rejected such an application by Asiedu’s lawyer, Mr Augustine Obour, since the beginning of the committal proceedings.

Mr Obour made a similar appeal during the court’s last sitting on March 3, 2016.

Making a case for the appeal, Mr Obour told the court that psychiatric examination of Asiedu would help him (counsel) put up a proper defence.

“As part of our defence, we will be grateful if the accused is subjected to psychiatric evaluation. Although I strongly believe that he needs psychiatric treatment, the best way for the court to determine that is to refer him for psychiatric examination,’’ he said.

Ruling

Giving a ruling, Mr Owusu said defence counsel had failed to prove to the court beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was not of sound mind.

“I am still struggling to see Asiedu as somebody who is not of sound mind,” he said.

The case was adjourned to April 5, 2016.