Lawyer unhappy with Pathologist in murdered MP’s trial

Accra Feb.8, –Nana Obiri Boahene, a legal practitioner on Thursday flared up following the absence of the Pathologist who conducted an autopsy on the deaceased Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North, J. B. Danquah-Adu in Court.

Dr Lawrence Edusei was expected to appear at the District Court with the full autopsy on the deceased MP.

Nana Obiri Boahene, who has been watching brief for the deceased family and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), told the court that the Pathologist could not hold everyone to ransom as he has consistently absented himself from Court.

According to him, at the last sitting the trial Judge Ms Aret Nsemoh who is now on leave, issued a stern warning to all parties to be in court but the Pathologist was not in on Thursday when the case was called.

Nana Obiri Boahene contended that Dr Edusei has exhibited gross disrespect to the judiciary through his lackadaisical attitude.

Counsel said he has petitioned the Ghana Medical and Dental Council over the conduct of Dr. Edusei but has not received any response.

He told journalists after the court sitting, that he was going to pray for a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr Edusei.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) George Amegah, who is leading the Prosecution said the Pathologist was expected to provide the court with a full autopsy report and he could not tell why he was not in court.

DSP Amegah said he wanted the case investigator to update the court why the Pathologist could not produce the report.

The relieving Judge Ms Gloria Laryea subpoenaed Dr Edusei to appear in court on February 22.

Dr Lawrence Edusei, the pathologist who is currently on retirement had told the court that he was working on the report adding that he had so far received pictures from the Police that would help him write the report.

On January 4, this year, Dr Edusei appeared before the court after three subpoenas for him to appear before the court for failing to issue the full autopsy report on the late MP.

The pathologist, however, explained to the court that he could not produce the report because he had been burgled and as a result, he had lost about one thousand reports.

Dr Edusei, however, told the court that when he is given the photographs and other vital materials he could recollect and put together a report on the late MP.

“Writing the report would demand additional work to be done. I need to get access to the pictures, take my time and recollect what I saw and put same into writing,” the pathologist had said.

The Prosecution recounted difficulties in accessing the pathology report of the victim, hence the delay in prosecuting the matter.

J.B Danquah Adu was murdered in his apartment in 2016 at Shiashie.

Two suspects, Daniel Asiedu and Vincent Bosso, were subsequently arrested and charged with murder following the incident. Their pleas have not been taken and they have been remanded into Prison custody.

The facts of the case, as presented by DSP Amegah, were that the deceased MP lived with his family in a one-storey house at Shiashie, near East Legon, a suburb of Accra, whilst Asiedu and Bosso lived at Agbogbloshie, also in Accra.

About 23:40 hours on February 8, 2016, the MP arrived home in his private car driven by his driver.

The driver had handed over the ignition keys of the car to Danquah-Adu and left for home, after which the MP retired to bed in a room located on the first floor of the house.

At about 0100 hours on the same night, Asiedu and Bosso, armed with a catapult, a cutter and a sharp knife, went to the legislator’s house.

Bosso is said to have assisted Asiedu to enter the house by scaling the fence wall on the blind side of a security man who was fast asleep.

On entering the house, Asiedu picked a ladder and climbed onto a porch on the top floor and entered the MP’s bedroom through a window, whilst Mr. Danquah-Adu was sleeping.

Whilst Asiedu was searching the room, the MP woke up and held him. There ensued a struggle, during which Asiedu stabbed the MP in the right chest above the breast.

The MP consequently held the knife, and Asiedu pulled it through the MP’s hand, making a deep cut in his palm.

The legislator, who bled profusely, fell by his bed, after which Asiedu stabbed him several times on his right chest and neck.

On realizing that the MP was dying, Asiedu left the room and took with his three iPhone smartphones.

Meanwhile, the struggle between the MP and Asiedu had drawn the attention of the security man in the house, who alerted other security men in the neighbourhood.

Having been alerted of an impending danger, Bosso took to his heels, leaving Asiedu behind.

However, Asiedu managed to descend from the top of the house and jumped over the electric fence on the walls of the house into an adjoining house and escaped.

GNA