Kasoa cops murder: Lack of jury forces adjournment

An Accra High Court was compelled to adjourn the case where one Eric Duah is standing trial for shooting and killing two cops at Kasoa in August 2019.

The challenge in constituting a jury panel was the reason for the adjournment; trial judge El-Freda Denkyi informed the court on Wednesday, June 16.

This is the second time the court has stated that it was having difficulty with empanelling juror members.

Eric Kojo Duah is the main suspect who is believed to have engaged the police in a gun battle at Big Apple, near Budumburam in the Central Region, two years ago.

The officers were identified as Sergeant Michael Dzamasi and Lance Corporal Awal Mohammed.

Both were officers of the Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) attachment to the Kasoa Divisional Police.

On August 28, 2019, the officers received a tip-off concerning an unregistered vehicle. The police signalled the occupants of the unregistered vehicle to stop, but the driver refused and sped off.

Sgt Dzamasi and Lance Corporal Awal gave the Toyota Camry saloon car a hot chase using a Toyota Camry police service car with registration number GP 3632.

In the course of the pursuit, the unregistered vehicle is said to have stopped, and three suspects fired at the police, killing Sgt Dzamasi instantly with five shots to his head.

Lance Corporal Awal died later at the hospital.

The occupants, who sped off later, abandoned the unregistered vehicle at Krokrobite on the outskirts of Accra.

A search conducted showed a Ruger pistol with registration number 343-61265, bearing the name Eric Kojo Duah, leading to his arrest.

Duah is being held on two counts of murder.

The case has been adjourned to July 1, 2021.