JB’s ghost tormenting me - alleged killer

The man accused of killing Mr J.B. Danquah –Adu, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa –North, in 2016 says he cannot sleep because the ghost of the lawmaker has been tormenting him.

Daniel Asiedu told the Accra High Court yesterday that he had been suffering in prison, including having restless nights.

“J.B’s ghost is worrying and tormenting me.

I cannot sleep so I want to speak the truth so that this case will be over,” he told the court.

Apart from the ghost scare, Asiedu also repeated his previous comment that he was contracted by some people to kill the MP, adding that he was paid Ghc20,000 for the killing.

He claimed the people who hired him further told him to accuse others of rather hiring him and also promised to get him out of prison after one year.

“They did not go by the tenets of the agreement that we had, “he said.

Asiedu also told the court that the second accused person, Vincent Bosso, was innocent, adding that he (Asiedu) committed the alleged murder alone.

Jury selection

The business for yesterday’s hearing was for the court to empanel a seven-member jury which would determine Asiedu’s fate.

Asiedu immediately raised his hands when the presiding judge, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, took her seat. When the judge gave him the opportunity to talk, Asiedu went into confession spree.

Justice Marfo, however, informed him that the court was now about to empanel a jury for the trial and what he was saying was premature.

“We have not gotten to that stage yet,” Justice Marfo told him.

Also, she said because of the absence of Asiedu’s lawyer, empanelling of the jury could not take place, adding “the presence of your lawyer is very crucial at this stage”

Justice Asiedu, therefore, adjourned the trial to March 18, 2020 for Asiedu’s lawyer to come to court in order for empanelling of the jury to be done.

Confessions and claims

Prosecutors have charged Asiedu and Bosso with conspiracy to commit robbery, while Asiedu has been charged separately with murder and robbery. The two have pleaded not guilty to the offences

The case has, however, had its fair share of drama. Before the trial could get to this stage, his lawyer, Mr Augustines Obour, made a case for a psychiatric examination to be conducted on him.

The examination, however, revealed that Asiedu was mentally sound to stand trial.

This is also not the first time Asiedu has confessed to killing the MP but this is the first time he has revealed that the MP’s ghost is tormenting him.

During committal proceedings at the District Court, he made many claims, including accusing certain individuals of hiring him to kill the legislator.

At one point, he asked the family of Mr Danquah –Adu to forgive him for killing the MP.

“I have now given my life to God; I want to tell the truth so that the MP’s family will forgive me’’ he said.

Murder

Mr Danquah-Adu was murdered in his residence at Shiashie, near Accra, on February 9, 2016.

It is the case of the prosecution that Asiedu and Bosso planned to go on a robbery spree but Bosso decided not to engage in the robbery again and went home.

Asiedu, the prosecution, said went to Shiashie and picked the MP’s house as where to rob.

The prosecution further said in the course of searching for items to steal, Asiedu made noise which woke up the MP.

According to the prosecution, a struggle ensued leading to Asiedu stabbing the MP in neck and chest, killing him in the process.

Writer’s email: emma.hawkson@graphic.com.gh