The Wa High Court will resume the trial of Eliasah Mahama, prime suspect and two others nabbed for their alleged involvement in the killing of the CEO of Jirapa Dubai, Eric Johnson.
This was after the court announced in May that it could not proceed with the case due to a claim by lawyers of the accused that the Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Torkornoo, had directed that the case be transferred to Kumasi.
This decision by the CJ had raised concerns among some people in the Upper West Region, especially Jirapa, for fear of a miscarriage of justice if the case was transferred.
Mr Luanga Bagonluri, lawyer for the second and third accused persons, told the court that he had petitioned the CJ against transferring the case from Wa to Kumasi and that justice could be better served if the case was tried in Wa.
Meanwhile, Mr Clement Eledi, lawyer for the first accused person, said justice could be well-served if the case was transferred to Kumasi.
Mr Saeed Abdul Shakuur, Principal State Attorney in the Upper West Region, raised concerns about the decision of the court to transfer the case since all witnesses in the case were in the Upper West Region.
He also raised concerns about the risk and cost implication of transporting the witnesses to and from Kumasi during court sittings if the case was eventually transferred.
Mr Shakuur said per the laws of Ghana, it was only a Prosecutor or a State Attorney in a case who could request a case to be transferred.
The development resulted in numerous protests and demonstrations.
Subsequently, the supervising judge at the Wa High Court, Justice Yussif Assibey announced that the Chief Justice has asked that the case continues at the Wa High Court.
Currently, three people are standing trial for the gruesome murder of Mr. Johnson, who until his death was the CEO of the Royal Cosy Hills hotel.
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