The Accra High Court has ordered a retrial for Daniel Asiedu, known as Sexy Don Don, who has been accused of the murder of Member of Parliament J.B. Danquah Adu from Abuakwa North. This decision came after the jury delivered a split verdict—four members found Asiedu not guilty of robbery, while three found him guilty. In terms of the murder charge, four jurors found him not guilty and three found him guilty. The MP was brutally killed at his residence in Shiashie near East Legon, Accra, in February 2016. Justice Lydia Osei Marfo presided over the case and ruled that, under section 285 of Act 30, the jury’s verdict was not legally acceptable, leading to their discharge and Asiedu’s remand into custody pending retrial.
The legal process has been extensive, with the case that started when Asiedu, then only 19 years old, was accused of committing the crime. During the proceedings, the family’s attendance underscored the emotional weight of the case. Asiedu’s defense counsel, Yaw Dankwah, challenged the reliability of the prosecution’s evidence, arguing that it was inconsistent and poorly substantiated. The defense’s perspective emphasized that the prosecution’s case was fabricated to incriminate the accused, questioning the competency of police investigations and the delay in the autopsy report’s preparation.
The prosecution outlined a narrative in which Asiedu had engaged in a planned robbery on the night of the murder. It was claimed that he armed himself and approached the MP’s residence after a disagreement with an accomplice. The court was informed that Asiedu had broken into the MP’s home with the intent to rob him, which ultimately resulted in the stabbing that led to the MP’s death. A significant part of the prosecution’s case rested on circumstantial evidence, including DNA analysis that linked Asiedu to the crime scene through belongings recovered after the incident.
Asiedu reportedly demonstrated to police during a reconstruction how he allegedly accessed the room where the MP was sleeping and carried out the robbery and stabbing. The prosecution emphasized the connection between Asiedu and the stolen mobile phones belonging to the deceased, which were found in his possession after he directed a witness to unlock them. This pointed to his involvement in the crime and fueled the narrative that he was indeed guilty of the robbery and subsequent murder.
Despite the grave charges against him, Asiedu has maintained his innocence throughout the trial. His defense strategy hinged on casting doubt on the prosecution’s claims and the legitimacy of the evidence presented to the jury. The defense specifically noted the failure of the prosecution to produce crucial witnesses who could provide firsthand accounts of the event, such as the MP’s wife and mother-in-law, who were incidentally in the house at the time of the attack.
The judge’s decision to order a retrial has significant implications for the case, as it gives Asiedu another opportunity to defend himself against the accusations that have so deeply affected both his life and the family of the late MP. With the next mention of the case scheduled for December 20, 2024, the legal proceedings are set to continue, illustrating the complexities of justice as the retrial looms on the horizon. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges within the judicial process when dealing with serious crimes such as murder and robbery.
