The murder trial of Daniel Asiedu, charged with the killing of former Abuakwa North MP JB Danquah, will proceed to retrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision, resulting in a hung jury. The jury delivered a 4:3 not guilty verdict, leading the presiding judge, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, to discharge them based on Section 285(4) of the Criminal and Other Offenses (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30). This decision rendered the jury’s verdict inconclusive and insufficient for a final judgment.
Asiedu remains in custody as directed by the court.
The case dates back to 2016, when Asiedu was arrested for the murder of the late MP. Prosecutors alleged that Asiedu had robbed and fatally stabbed JB Danquah at his residence.
Case Background
The facts of the case reveal that Asiedu accessed the MP’s room via a ladder and that the security guard on duty was asleep during the incident. A struggle ensued between Asiedu and Danquah, culminating in the MP’s stabbing in the chest and neck, after which the accused fled with three phones. Investigations showed that Asiedu had a knife wound on his palm and attempted to wash the blood at an adjacent house.
The third prosecution witness, a family friend of Asiedu’s girlfriend, testified that he received the phones from Asiedu and was asked to charge and unlock them. One of the phones was later found to contain pictures of the deceased, prompting the witness to report the matter to the police, which led to Asiedu’s arrest.
Prosecution’s Case
Eight witnesses were called, including the late MP’s driver, Samuel Berko Sarkodie, who described Danquah’s activities leading up to the murder. Security guard Stephen Apraku recounted how he found the repositioned ladder and discovered the MP’s body in a pool of blood. Two brothers, who were family friends of Asiedu’s girlfriend, testified to receiving and unlocking phones that led to Asiedu’s arrest. Additionally, evidence from a pathologist, DNA analyst, and investigator reinforced the prosecution’s case. The DNA analyst confirmed that traces of Asiedu’s DNA were found at the crime scene and on the house where he washed his hands.
Defense Argument
Asiedu’s lawyers argued that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence. Rev. Yaw Darkwa, representing Asiedu, claimed no forensic tests were conducted on the alleged murder weapon and raised questions about the validity of the post-mortem report, which was prepared two years after the autopsy. Darkwa also challenged the credibility of the DNA expert, asserting that the expert had used a third-party company and was not directly involved in the testing.
Outcome and Next Steps
The jury, after deliberations, returned a 4:3 not guilty verdict on both the robbery and murder charges. The judge, finding the outcome inconclusive, ordered a retrial to ensure a fair and definitive conclusion to the case.
