The High Court in Accra has directed the Registrar of the Court (Criminal Division) to write to the Legal Aid Commission to assign a lawyer to Pius Ayoma, a private Security guard facing charges including attempted murder.
Ayoma, who escaped from lawful custody on the midnight of March 2 this year after appearing at the High Court on March 1, is also facing charges of robbery.
Following his rearrest, in May last month, he had been remanded into Nsawam Prison Custody and is facing two separate charges the Circuit Court and High Court.
At the last court sitting on June 8, 2023, when he was expected to appear before the High Court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, Ayoma was absent.
The court subsequently, ordered the authorities of the Nsawam Medium Security Prison to produce the accused today.
In court on Monday, June 19, the accused was present and informed the court that he has no lawyer contrary to what he told the court on his first appearance before escaping from lawful custody.
The Prosecution led by Mrs Sefakor Batse, a Principal State Attorney recounted to the court how the accused escaped.
“He escaped from lawful custody for over a month but thankfully due to the efforts of police and other institutions, he was rearrested and has been brought before you (Court),” the Principal State Attorney told the court.
She also informed the court subsequently that, prosecution had filed all necessary documentations by way of disclosures and witnesses and are ready for the trial to commence.
By Court
The Criminal Division of the Accra Court, presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, after listening to the prosecution and the accused made some orders.
“The accused person is facing charges of attempted murder and robbery,” the Court said.
“By the nature of these offenses, the practice has been that, the accused person is represented legally because his trial definitely would be by jury,” the Court stated.
Justice Marfo explained that, “this been so, the Registrar of this court (Criminal Division) is directed to write to the Legal Aid (Commission) Accra, to assign a legal representation for the accused person by the next adjourned date.”
Justice Marfo subsequently ordered that, “The Registrar should attached a copy of this court note and attached the orders through dispatch and make follow up to the Legal Aid Office to ensure a lawyer is assigned to the accused before the next court date.”
“It should also be noted that counsel for the Republic has made full disclosures and for all intents and purpose, this court can empanel the jury for the same to begin the trial at the earliest possible time,” Justice Marfo stated.
The court also said, a copy of the accused person’s disclosures “I am told is lodged at the Registry of this court,” and “he can take a copy or allow his lawyers take up his copy at the registry.”
According to EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, who was in court reports that, the court has called for the jurors to be summoned for empaneling.
The case has been adjourned to July 3, 2023 for further orders.
Brief facts
Per the brief facts of the case, the complainants are a couple who reside together off the Spintex road.
The accused, Pius Anundoabil Ayoma also lived off the Spintex Road Accra and was a security man with a private Security Company.
The facts indicate that he was assigned by the private security firm to work at the residence of the couple as a security guard till he was relieved of that post upon a complaint made by the couple to his (the accused person’s) supervisor for petty stealing at their residence.
It states that on January 21, 2020 at about 7:30pm, the accused who was no longer working at the residence of the couple, armed with a gun and a knife surfaced at the premises of the complainants wearing a mask and attacked the security man one on duty.
The facts state that the accused tied his legs and arms with a neck tie and a rope, after which he hits him several times with the butt of the gun.
Access to house
The facts state that he then gained access to the main house with a duplicate key which he already had and he entered the bedroom of the couple, now unmasked where he chanced upon one complainant (the wife) who was home alone.
“He forcefully broke into their bathroom where she was freshening up to go to church and injured himself in the process resulting in blood stains on the bathroom floor.
“He ordered her to transfer some money from her phone to a mobile number which investigations later revealed was registered in his name,” the brief facts state.
“He then took her to the room where he had tied their security guard and threatened to hit her with the gun just as he was hitting the security guard if she did not give him more money.”
Momo transfer
The facts indicate that she pleaded with him not to hit her because she was pregnant and did not want to lose her baby.
“He forcibly made her transfer about two thousand Ghana Cedis unto the said phone number and even assaulted her.
“He asked her for more money which she said she did not have so he told her he would wait for her husband to return since he was aware they were well to do.”
“He then tied her up in the bathroom, ransacked the rooms and collected various items belonging to the couple.
“He took away two iPhones, one Dell Laptop computer, one DSTV decorder, one Subwoofer, one 32 inches Samsung Television, one 55-inch Philip flat Screen Television, two travelling bags and assorted cloths.”
Uber request
The facts indicate that he then ordered her to use her phone to order an Uber to come to the house.
The accused, upon arrival of the uber driver, conveyed all the items with his (the uber driver) assistance into the vehicle.
“The accused did not leave but lay in wait for the other complainant (who is the husband) to return from work. At about 10:30 pm, he returned home and entered the house.
“It was only upon entering the house that he realised his house was under attack. He saw his wife tied on the toilet seat and in his attempt to set her free, he was attacked by the accused who was hiding behind the bathroom door,” the facts State.
Gunshot
The facts indicate that he (the accused) tried hitting him with his gun but the complainant hit the gun with his hand and run outside while shouting for help.
“The accused actually chased the complainant outside and fired the gun at him but missed him and he managed to escape unhurt.
“The accused, (who had earlier on come out unmasked to pack the stolen items into the Uber) jumped into the Uber vehicle but now masked and ordered the driver at gun point to drive out of the house, towards Spintex road,” it states.
It states that on their way, “the accused removed the mask and ordered the Uber driver to get a taxi for him.
“The driver obliged and stopped a taxi and he transferred the booty into the taxi and ordered the driver to drive towards Kasapreko direction.”
Police station
It states that the Police were informed and the accused was traced to Kasapreko junction where he was spotted in the taxi with the stolen items.
The police signalled the driver to stop and he did and the accused came out and pointed a gun at the police.
“The police also pointed a gun at him but upon realising that the gun of the Police was not functioning he (the accused) managed to escape from the vehicle leaving behind the taxi together with the booty.
“The taxi was sent to the Manet Police Station where a complaint was lodged.
“The complainants identified him to the Police as the one who robbed them. They also identified the stolen items in the taxi as theirs.”
It states that investigations later revealed that the accused was hiding at Fumbisi in the Upper East Region where he was arrested.
In the process of arresting him, the accused resisted, with the assistance of his mother and other members of his family by firing at one of the arresting officers, injuring him in the process.
The accused person was said to have been rearrested through the effort of the complainants, the investigator and the police.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Murtala Inusah
