MP’s alleged killer needs psychiatric examination – Defence Counsel
An Accra Magistrate Court has turned down the plea of Daniel Asiedu, the alleged killer of Mr Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu, the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North, to refer him to the Psychiatric Hospital.
The Court, however, ordered the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) not to keep Aseidu in a solitary confinement and treat him equally among cells inmates.
Asiedu, who has been charged with murder, is said to have killed the MP in cold blood at his residence in Shiashie, near East Legon on February 8.
His plea has been reserved.
The Court’s order came after his counsel, Mr Augustines Obuor complained about how his client was treated in BNI custody.
According Mr Obuor, he has problem with the way his client was being discriminated against at the BNI.
Defence counsel contended that Asiedu, now 20 years, has been kept in what he described as a ‘condemned cell’, adding that Aseidu was being secluded although his plea has not been taken.
Counsel argued that his client was being kept in a boxlike cell and he only comes out when he wants to use the washroom, adding that he is not allowed to talk to anyone.
Mr Obour said his client has also not been told why he was being confined at the BNI cells.
On Asiedu’s mental status, Mr Obuor noted that all was not well with him adding, “after having a short conference with the accused he ought to be sent to the Psychiatric Hospital for examination.”
“When I asked him where he comes from, Asiedu told me he comes from Ghana,” Defence Counsel told the Court.
“From today he should not be kept alone. His rights should not be violated. He should be allowed to talk to people at the cells,” counsel added.
Superintendent Francis Bah, the prosecutor, told the Court that it was the first time he was hearing of defence counsel concerns and he would investigate his concerns and ensure that the right thing was done.
Mr Baah said there was no ‘condemned cells’ at the BNI, saying such cells only existed at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons.
Prosecution prayed the Court to grant them time as the Police was undertaking further investigations as well as make some follow ups.
The Court remanded Aseidu into lawful custody to reappear on March 14.
Earlier, the Court in its bid to ascertain whether or not to refer Asiedu to the Psychiatric Hospital, asked him the following questions:
Court: Which part of Ghana do you come from?
Aseidu: My ancestors are from Larteh.
Court: Where is your father?
Asiedu: My father comes from Larteh. I have never set my eyes on my mother. I was brought up by my grandmother who resides at Madina Social Welfare.
Court: Do you know your siblings?
Asiedu: Yes I do. My sister is 16 years and the rest are six and five years old.
The Court after this, noted that Asiedu’s conversation has been coherent.
Superintendent Francis Baah said the deceased, J.B. Danquah-Adu, lived with his family in a one storey building at Shiashie, while Asiedu, a school dropout, lived with his girlfriend at Agbogloshie in Accra.
On February 8, this year, at about 1140 hrs, the deceased went to his house with his driver Samuel Berko Sarkodie, he said.
The driver after dropping the deceased handed over the car keys to him (the deceased) and left for his residence at Kasoa.
At about 0100 hrs, however, Asiedu armed himself with a catapult, sharp cutlass and a cutter, and on the blind side of the MP’s security man, entered his residence.
Asiedu picked up a ladder and entered the top floor of the house, where the deceased was sleeping, whilst the security man at post was also fast asleep.
Asiedu on entering the deceased’s room, searched the place and in the process the deceased woke up from his sleep and held Asiedu.
The Prosecution said Asiedu stabbed the deceased above his breast on his left side, so the deceased then held the knife of Asiedu and shouted for help.
Superintendent Baah said the deceased, subsequently, sustained deep cuts in his hands and became unconscious.
While the deceased was bleeding profusely, Asiedu stabbed him again below the breast on his right side and neck and left him (the deceased) to his fate.
Aseidu then took away two iPhones and a tablet of the deceased, and managed to descend from the top to the back of the house and climbed one of the polytanks in the house, and skipped the electric fence of the house into an adjoining house and escaped.
The Prosecution said the security man in the house heard the shouts of the deceased for help and he alerted other security men in the area for assistance no one came to their aid.
Superintendent Baah said some neighbours, however, got in touch with the Police emergency number but when the Police arrived, the MP had passed on, so they conveyed the body of the MP to the Police Hospital, where it is awaiting autopsy.
The prosecutor said investigations led to the arrest of the accused who confessed to the crime.
The Exhibits retrieved from the accused, among other things, have been forwarded to the Police Forensic Laboratory for analysis.
Superintendent Baah said the accused also sustained injuries on his left finger and the last finger on his right hand.
Source: GNA