The High Court in Accra has rescinded its order for the arrest of a 23-year-old Level 100 Biological student, charged with allegedly killing her boyfriend for not showing up in court.
The decision to revoke the warrant came after the accused, Safina Mohammed, also known as Safina Diamond, appeared in court just hours after the order was issued to justify her earlier absence. She has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her Ghanaian boyfriend, Frank Osei, who was residing in Canada, and is currently on bail.
On Wednesday, October 23, Safina was absent when the case was called, prompting Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as a High Court judge, to issue a bench warrant for her arrest.
“We were to have dates with the jury and the lawyers today for the trial to commence,” Justice Marfo stated. “Accidentally, the accused person and her lawyers are absent without any reasonable cause. A bench warrant is hereby issued for her arrest.”
However, her lawyers quickly informed the court and brought her before the judge. Samuel Alesu-Dzordzi, her counsel, explained, “Our earlier absence before the honourable court was due to a calendar mishap and not out of disrespect. Upon short notice, the accused has attended court, demonstrating her intent to participate in the proceedings.”
Counsel requested the discharge of the earlier order for her arrest.
Justice Marfo acknowledged that the accused had consistently attended court. “This case has been recalled at the request of counsel for the accused, who realized the case had been called earlier,” she said. “He informed the court they thought the date was tomorrow, October 24, 2024, instead. He promised to contact his client to be present today, and true to his word, she has come to court.”
The judge further noted, “Moreover, she has been very consistent with her court attendance. Therefore, I will rescind the order for her arrest and restore her to her previous bail conditions.”
EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reported that the jury has been discharged “due to circumstances beyond” the court’s “control” and the fact that “this trial cannot commence as anticipated.”
The prosecution was led by Senior State Attorney Nama Ama Adinkra, assisted by Assistant State Attorney Yaw Acquah. Pearl Elikplim Addo provided a watching brief for the victim’s family.
The case has been adjourned to November 13, 2024.
Facts of the Case:
The prosecution alleges that on Sunday, July 24, 2022, Osei, who was on vacation in Ghana, visited Safina, his fiancée, at her residence in Ashaley Botwe School Junction and decided to spend the night.
According to the prosecution, that night, Safina, along with accomplices yet to be arrested, allegedly stabbed Osei with a knife and strangled him. They claim that Safina and her accomplices cleaned Osei’s blood from the floor while his body remained in the room for 24 hours.
The prosecution states that Osei’s body was dragged from the first floor of the building down the staircase and dumped at the gate, where the deceased had parked his Toyota Tundra. Safina then allegedly called the police, claiming that her boyfriend had died in her room. When the police arrived, they found Osei’s body lying at the gate of Safina’s house, leading to her arrest for investigations.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
