*THREE TOWN SHS*



TODAY IN COURT


NEWSFEED HUB 12TH SEPTEMBER 2021.


Day two of the cross-examination happened at the circuit court at denu in the ketu South Municipality of the volta region. The case between the state and the accused( Akakpo Gilbert) took a centre stage in the courtroom today. 


The counsel for the accused, lawyer Raymond Afawubo sought to discredit the witness statement of the second prosecuting witness( Master John Ezekiel) who incidentally was the first year student who was allegedly  bullied by the accused person. Master John Ezekiel who is a first year student gave evidence to the incidence which happened between the complainant Mr. John Akey an ICT teacher and the accused Master Gilbert Akakpo a third year Vitual Art student. 


The fifteen year old first year student  who was purportedly manhandled by his senior Gilbert Akakpo which solicited the intervention of the erudite ICT master maintained a sangfroid disposition throughout the cross-examination. He succinctly answered all the questions posed by the lawyer for the accused. 


It became very clear that the modus operandi of the lawyer for the accused Counsel Raymond Afawubo was to establish a fisticuff between the plaintiff and the accused. The defence counsel extraneously with some level of meticulosity tried to attenuate the gravement of the case by showing an exhibit( a torn school uniform suggesting that the complainant and the accused engaged in a brawl leading to a fight, but this was poohpoohed by the second prosecuting witness.


When the state prosecutor( chief inspector Bob Waddah) took his turn in leading the investigator of the case lance corporal Abigail Yao in evidence the accused lawyer in his theatrics objected to some exhibits which were being tendered in as evidence by the investigator, that is, the cutter which was used to commit the dastardly act by the accused. Lawyer Afawubo in his vehemence said the exhibit was not presented during the case management citing the recent election petition case at the  Supreme Court as an authority. The presiding judge who was equanimous and tolerant throughout the trial prevailed upon the counsel to accept the exhibit since it was mentioned in the affidavit. The counsel obliged. 


When the prosecutor led the investigator in adducing another exhibit which may destroyed or pulverised   the case of the accused the learned counsel raised another objection arguing that the prosecutor sprung a surprise on him since the pictorial evidence was not tenderd in by the prosecutor. The judge ruled in his favour and ask the prosecutor to serve the accused the pictorial evidence. 


It will be recalled  that on the 11th of August 2021 it was alleged that one master Gilbert Akakpo a form three virtual arts student who was visibly morose and etiolated in court today, bullied  a first year student master John Ezekiel when Mr John Akey an ICT teacher heard the altercation and sought to acquaint himself with the cause of the disagreement. In the cause of the melee the accused reportedly stab the teacher at the lower part of his arm leading to serious phlebotomy. 


The case  received public opprobrium and condemnation. The accused was later arrested by the police.The court was today attended by some family members of the accused and some members of staff from three town senior High School. 


The case was adjourned to the 17th day of September 2021.




*EDWIN KWAME AMEMASOR REPORTING FOR THREE-TOWN NEWS SPOTTED BY NEWSFEED HUB*