For the fourth time, the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court is unable to empanel jurors for the case where one Eric Kojo Duah and one other, are standing trial for the murder of two police officers.
Presiding judge, Justice El-Freda Denkyi, again told the parties involved in the case the court is finding it difficult to get jurors for trial to commence.
She, however, assured lawyers in the matter jurors would be empaneled during the next sitting.
Before she expressed the difficulty of the court to empanel jurors, she indicated she had been told there were some journalists in the courtroom and proceeded to ask them to stand.
While the journalists, who were there to report on the matter were on their feet, she ordered none of them should be seen writing in her court.
She stressed, “you are free to observe proceedings but do not record by writing.”
Before the order was given, police officers in the courtroom had already warned the journalists who were from TV3, GHone, Daily Guide and GBC not to be seen writing or typing on their phones.
The police officers proceeded to tell the clerk of the court about the presence of the journalists through which the judge was informed.
BACKGROUND
The accused – Eric Kojo Duah and Michael Sarfo Ani, have been charged for killing two police officers, General Lance Corporal Mohammed Awal and Lance Corporal Michael Dzamesi on the Kasoa-Budumburam-Accra-Aprah stretch in August 2019.
Last year, the police was advised by the Attorney-General to formally charge suspect Duah with murder and suspect Ani with abetment.
Mr Duah is accused to have shot and killed two police officers on the Kasoa-Budumburam stretch in August 2019.
He allegedly took turns to shoot and kill General Lance Corporal Mohammed Awal and Lance Corporal Michael Dzamesi who were on taskforce duty along the Kasoa-Budumburam-Aprah road on August 28, 2019.
The officers, according to prosecution, asked suspect Duah, who was driving an unregistered vehicle to stop but he ignored them.
The officers, who had a service vehicle, chased him and suspect Duah allegedly pulled a pistol from his car and shot the officers in turns.
While Mr Awal died on the spot, Mr Dzamesi died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Mr Duah and suspect Ani have since been remanded into lawful custody.
The case has been adjourned to July 28, 2021.