The High Court in Accra has issued an order for Daniel Asiedu, also known as Sexy Don Don, to appear in court on Tuesday, April 23, to open his defense to charges including murder. This comes after the court stated that should he fail to do so, his defense to the charges would be deemed closed.
Justice Lydia Osei Marfo gave the order on Monday, April 22, following a request from Daniel Asiedu's lawyers to subpoena witnesses to testify before he files his Witness Statement.
On March 26, the Court had ordered Asiedu, who is also facing a charge of robbery, to open his defense after finding that the Prosecution had established a Prima facie evidence against him.
The court directed him to file his Witness Statement by April 15. However, when the case was called on Monday, Daniel Asiedu was absent, and his lawyers informed the Court that he had been taken ill. The Court directed the lawyers to produce evidence of his illness signed by an accredited medical officer on April 23.
The Court also expressed concern over the timing of the request to subpoena witnesses, stating that it was brought in bad faith and that the case has been pending for almost four years.
In response to the request for an abridgment of time for the motion to be heard, the Court stated that subpoenaing a witness is an administrative matter and does not require a motion to be filed.
The Court emphasized that it will not be part of any conspiracy theory to delay the trial further and ordered Daniel Asiedu to appear in court on April 23 to open his defense. If he fails to do so, further orders will be given for closing addresses and summing up.
It is important for the legal process to proceed in a timely and fair manner, and all parties involved must adhere to the court's directives. The resolution of this case is crucial for upholding justice and ensuring accountability for the charges brought against Daniel Asiedu.
We will continue to monitor this case and provide updates as it progresses through the legal system.
-source starrfm | curated by Tetteh Belinda | GhanaCrimes
