William Baah and 13 other defendants are on trial for the murder of Major Maxwell Mahama, and the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court has ordered that they present their defense.Baah, the Assemblyman for Denkyira-Obuasi, and the other defendants had submitted a motion for submission of no case after the prosecution had finished calling 14 witnesses.
In contrast to William Baah, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of aiding and abetting, the other defendants have all denied the charges of conspiracy and murder.
Justice Mariama Owusu, a Justice of the Supreme Court sitting in extra capacity as a High Court Judge, ruled on the submission of no case to answer on Monday, July 4. She stated that the prosecution has proved a prima facie case.
Major Maxwell was harmed purposely and without hesitation by the defendant charged with murder. According to the preceding, the prosecution has established a strong case against the defendant, Justice Owusu ruled.
The submission of no case has been overruled and the accused persons are called upon to open their defense,” the Courts ruled.
William Baah, the first defendant to enter a plea, has had his case postponed until July 18, 2022, according to EIB Network’s Court Correspondent Murtala Inusah.
Background
William Baah, the Assemblyman for Denkyira-Obuasi and some 13 others are accused of their respective roles in the incident that led to the lynching of the young military officer.
The young military officer was allegedly lynched n May 29, 2017, when he was mistaken to be an armed robber.
The prosecution had called 14 witnesses and closed its case.
The accused persons are William Baah, the Assembly Member of Denkyira-Obuasi, Bernard Asamoah alias Daddy, Kofi Nyame a.k.a Abortion, Akwasi Boah, Kwame Tuffour, Joseph Appiah Kubi, Michael Anim and Bismarck Donkor.
Others are John Bosie, Akwasi Baah, Charles Kwaning, Emmanuel Badu, Bismarck Abanga and Kwadwo Anima.
They have all pleaded not guilty to respective charges of abetment, conspiracy and murder and have since been remanded into lawful custody and are standing trial.
