The High Court in Accra has fixed Wednesday December 4, 2024 for the jury to determine the fate of Daniel Asiedu, the man accused of the murder of late Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North, Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu.
The date was fixed after Prosecution led by Mrs. Sefakor Batse, a Principal State Attorney, concluded her cross examination of Asiedu.
Defence lawyers led by Yaw Danquah prior to closing the case of his client – Daniel Asiedu said, they will have no witnesses to call.
Asiedu affectionately called ‘Sexy Don Don’ a name that he has since denied, pleaded not guilty to the charged of the murder of late MP for Abuakwa North, JB Danquah Adu.
He has also pleaded not guilty to the charge of robbery while he had previously been acquitted of conspiracy to rob together with one Vincent Bosso.
Cross examination
In Court on Thursday, November 21, 2024, Mrs. Sefakor Batse, a Principal State Attorney, took Asiedu on, in the Prosecution’s final cross examination.
Under scrutiny, Asiedu said the court should believe his story and not believe that of the Prosecution.
“All that prosecutions is saying is not true,” he said, adding that, “The truth as I remember is that, the police also took me to a certain house, they gave a cup to me to hold, took photographs of me,” Asiedu said while being confronted by the prosecution on evidence connecting him to the crime.
Mrs Batse, the PSA, had put to Asiedu that per Exhibit G (a red cap found in the compound of Abigail Marfo, PW6), it identified that it “generated 100% of your DNA.”
The PSA, also said ‘Exhibit H – green container he (Asiedu) “used to fetch water from the water barrel” to wash his face also “generated 100*% of your DNA.”
But, in his responses, Asiedu said those assertions were not true, before professing his side of the truth.
“The truth as I remember is that, when the police took me to the house, they gave me certain things to hold which they wanted to use against me such as red cap, cup and attire I believe that is what counsel is talking about,” Asiedu said.
It was the case of the Prosecution that, Asiedu’s claims that he was “tortured and beaten up on the instructions of Dampare” cannot be true and that he willingly gave statements to the Police.
But, Asiedu denied that, saying, “The truth is what I have already told this court on the subject.”
Over 10 Statements
Mrs Batse, the PSA while putting it to Asiedu said, “you gave more than 10 statements to the police and even though you keep changing your story, one thing was constant through out – the fact that you were in the house of JB Danquah on that day.”
But Asiedu denied that assertion and explained that “What is true about what Prosecution is saying is that, when I was taken to Tiwaa Addo Danquah’s office and they told me to accept every statement and thump print those statements.
“That is why you see in those statements what is stated but that is not true,” Asiedu said.
I have only one Statement
It was the case of the Prosecution that, the accused was in the house of JB Danquah Adu, and his statements captured in exhibits – S, U and W showed that he (Asiedu) was in the house of the late MP, and he also stabbed him to death.
But, Asiedu denied that, saying “I remember writing only one statement to the police. But all other statements that were brought for me to thumbprints, I was forced to do so in handcuffs.”
Stabbing, robbing
Mrs. Batse, while putting to Asiedu that, he did not only “stab” JB Danquah but he also “robbed” him of his phones that is why the phones were found in his possession.
Asiedu while denying that assertion said, “The police never took any phones from me,” but “Rather, I heard they took the phones from another Guy whom I do not know.”
“Whilst in prison, I also heard that the Guy whom they collected the phones from called Ursula Owusu and Ken Agyepong, went to their house, sat there for 30mins, planned whatever they wanted to do.
“That is why they were never brought to this Guy to the court to testify,” Asiedu observed.
Sexy Don Don vs Gucci Young Star
The PSA again put to Asiedu that, his evidence before this court that his name is “Gucci Young Star and that the Sexy Don Don was given to you by Dampare was not true.
But, Asiedu said, “It is true that my name is Saniel Asiedu alias Gucci Young Star.”
“If the court will permit me I can show to the jury that Gucci Young Star is tattooed on my body,” he said.
While putting her last question to Asiedu, the PSA said, “whether your alias is Sexy Don Dom or Gucci Young Star, it does not change the fact that there is evidence before this court that you, Daniel Asiedu went to the house of JB Danquah on or before February 8, 2016, robbed him, and intentionally caused his death by stabbing him.
“All that the Prosecution is saying is not true, adding that, I Daniel Asiedu, I have no issues with anybody neither have I wronged anybody and I’m innocent. I did not go to the house.
“The only time I went there was when the police took me there and mount their cameras on me,” Asiedu said.
EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reports that Prosecution and the Defence will both address the jury on the same day after which the presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, will sum up tue trial for the jury to retire and return their verdict on December 4, 2024.
The verdict of the Jury is binging on the Court and Asiedu if found guilty of murder would be sentenced to life imprisonment.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Murtala Inusah
