Murder of 4 Takoradi girls: Judge asks for lawyers for accused
A Sekondi High Court has demanded legal representation for the two Nigerian nationals charged with murder in the infamous case of the four missing Takoradi girls.
This was after the accused persons, Sam Udoetuk Wills and John Orji, were committed to a crime of murder and appeared in court without legal representation.
The presiding judge, Justice Richard Adjei-Frimpong, noted that the two had had no representation from the beginning of the case.
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Legal Aid
He said the current criminal law required that the two were given legal representation upon their committal to murder, and said the Legal Aid Scheme would be contacted for the assessment of the accused persons to arrange representation for them.
“That should have been the case previously but now they have been charged fully and committed to the crime of murder, so they should be given legal representation. I will write to order the Legal Aid to assess them and arrange representation for them,” he said.
The resort to the Legal Aid Scheme was also informed by the failure of lawyers present at the court to step in for the accused.
The case has since been adjourned to July 29, 2020.
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AG advice
The position of Justice Adjei-Frimpong came after the prosecuting State Attorney, Ms Patience Klenogo, said the accused persons were yet to get legal representation and asked the court to advise.
Justice Adjei-Frimpong stated that since the case had become a matter of public interest, there was the need for the matter to be discussed with the Attorney-General for special concessions to expedite proceedings.
John Orji
Before the adjournment of the case, the second accused, John Orji, again told the court his handlers were not taking care of his health even after informing them that he was asthmatic.
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The judge referred the matter to the prisons to take care of him, and asked Orji to provide information about his whereabouts when the murder took place to investigators.
Even though the families of the girls were yet to accept the committal of the two, some had their lawyers in court.