Kasoa ritual murder trial: Court to empanel new set of jury

The Accra High Court hearing the case of two teenagers standing trial for allegedly killing a 10-year-old in Kasoa has requested for a new set of jury.

The court was supposed to empanel its seven-person jury at its sitting on Tuesday, July 6, 2022.

But the trial judge, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo indicated that a request had been made for a new set of jury as available jurors were currently engaged in several cases at the same premises.

“The main business for today (Tuesday) was for us to empanel a jury. However, the jury as we have now are involved in several cases that are being tried within this premises. To do an effective trial, I requested for a new crop of qualified men and women who are not involved in several cases to be summoned so as to undertake this exercise.”

In view of this, I have been informed that letters have been sent to get all such people from the various institutions. Therefore, we need to exercise patience for the administration to take up this duty,” she said.

The case was therefore adjourned to July 25, 2022.

On June 16, the court reversed its former decision to not try the case by a jury.  It had earlier held that due to the ages of the accused persons, and in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act, it may not be necessary to have them tried by a jury.

However in its June 16 decision indicating it would try the matter by a jury, the trial judge said having done consultations and some issues raised, “I have decided that the trial must proceed by a jury.”

Charged with conspiracy and murder, the two boys (a 15-year-old minor and an 18-year-old young teenager) are being tried for killing 10-year-old Ishmael Mensah Abdallah in April 2021.