In the ongoing trial of the alleged murderers of Major Maxwell Mahama, Chief State Attorney Mrs. Evelyn Keelson asserted that the prosecution has presented compelling evidence of conspiracy against 13 of the accused persons.
She stated that these individuals shared a common purpose to lynch Major Mahama, with substantial proof indicating that they engaged in various activities with the intention to kill him.
Mrs. Keelson made these statements as part of the prosecution's closing remarks during the trial held at an Accra High Court on Monday, October 23, 2023.
Fourteen individuals are standing trial for the murder of Major Mahama, an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, stationed at Burma Camp.
Major Mahama was on duty in Denkyira-Obuasi, Central Region, on May 29, 2017, when a group of residents mistakenly believed he was an armed robber and lynched him, despite his repeated pleas that he was a Ghana Armed Forces officer.
The accused persons on trial include William Baah, the Denkyira-Obuasi Assembly member, Bernard Asamoah (alias Daddy), Kofi Nyame (alias Abortion), Akwasi Boah, Kwame Tuffour, Joseph Appiah Kubi, Michael Anim, and Bismarck Donkor.
The remaining accused are John Bosie, Akwasi Baah, Charles Kwaning, Emmanuel Badu, Bismarck Abanga, and Kwadwo Anima.
Mrs. Keelson highlighted that video evidence demonstrated that the intent to harm Major Mahama was present, and the accused individuals played various roles in his lynching.
Even though Bismarck Donkor, Emmanuel Badu, Bismarck Abanga, and Kwadwo Anima were not captured in the video, they were shown to have participated in different capacities, as confirmed by a picture album compiled by investigators.
“The deceased was very much alive while he was begging the accused persons to spare his life, but they went ahead to attack him with various implements,” Mrs. Keelson noted.
Moreover, the prosecution argued that there is compelling evidence of abetment of crime to wit murder against William Baah, the then Assemblyman of Denkyira-Obuasi, for instigating action against Major Mahama.
Mrs. Keelson contended that William Baah abetted the crime by encouraging some of the accused individuals to lynch the Army officer.
She emphasized that as an Assemblyman, Baah had no right to instigate action against the deceased.
Even if Major Mahama had been an armed robber, the law gave the police the right to make arrests, and the Assemblyman should have reported the situation to the police.
Mrs. Keelson cited the testimony of the 14th prosecution witness, who revealed that the Assemblyman, after receiving a call from a trader, called men to gather weapons to attack Major Mahama.
The case has been adjourned to October 30, 2023, for further proceedings.
