Prof. Benneh murder case: Court adjourns trial to December 8, 2020

The prosecution in the trial of the murder of Law lecturer, Professor Emmanuel Yaw Benneh, has told the court that Opambour Agya Badu Nkansah, the second suspect in the case, was still receiving treatment.

At the hearing in Accra yesterday, Nkansah was absent in court, making it the fourth time he had absented himself from court due to medical reasons.

The last time Nkansah appeared in court was on September 30, 2020.

On Wednesday, October 14, 2020, when the case was called at the Kaneshie District Court, the prosecutor, Inspector Ebenezer Teye-Okuffo, said Nkansah was indisposed and was receiving treatment at the Police Hospital in Accra.                                                                                                                               

Concerns

Counsel for Nkansah, Mr Emmanuel Larbi, at the last proceedings on November 9, 2020, informed the court about Nkansah’s prevailing health condition.

Mr Larbi presented pictures alleged to be those of Nkansah to validate his claims about his client’s health conditions and a possible bail for the suspect since, according to him, his client was not being treated well at the Police Hospital.

The prosecution, on the other hand, insisted that Nkansah was receiving good treatment at the Police Hospital and that the pictures presented to the court could not be those of Nkansah.

The presiding judge ordered the prosecution to either produce Nkansah at yesterday’s hearing or produce a comprehensive medical report on his health condition.

Situation

However, when the case was called yesterday, Inspector Teye-Okuffo explained that Nkansah could not appear because he was due for treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on November 25, 2020.

“We humbly pray that after November 25, 2020, if the accused person is unable to come to court due to his condition, prosecution will be able to furnish this honourable court with the medical report the court ordered,” the prosecutor said and prayed the court for adjournment.

The court, presided over by Ms Ama Adomako Kwakye, further adjourned the case to December 8, 2020.

Meanwhile, the prosecution is waiting for Nkansah to recover to enable him to consolidate his charge sheet and that of the third suspect, Ebenezer Kwayisi, alias Junior, who has been slapped with murder and abetment of crime.

The lead suspect, James Nana Womba, who according to the police, confessed to killing Prof. Benneh, died in police custody on October 17, 2020.

According to the police, Womba suddenly fell ill while in custody and was rushed to the police hospital where he passed on.

Background

Prof. Emmanuel Yaw Benneh was found dead at his residence at Adjiriganor in Accra.

The body of the law lecturer, a younger brother of a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. George Benneh, was discovered at his residence on Saturday, September 12, 2020 in a pool of blood with his hands tied behind him and his body bearing cuts.

During initial investigations, the suspects were all picked up, but some were later released, leaving Womba and Badu Nkansah to stand trial.