William Baah, a former assemblyman of Denkyira Obuasi who was sentenced to life imprisonment for abetting the murder of Major Maxwell Mahama has been acquitted and discharged.
Baah’s acquittal came after a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, in their unanimous judgement, held that the trial judge misdirected the jury to return a verdict of guilty on Baah.
It therefore set aside the conviction of abetment of crime, to wit, murder on Baah and entered a verdict of not guilty.
According to the Court, the prosecution’s case was unreliable to establish the conviction of the appellant.
The Court of Appeal identified some inconsistencies and suspicions in the statement of two witnesses, adding that the court ought not to have relied on their caution statements in convicting the assemblyman.
It noted that there was no evidence suggesting that Baah abetted the crime, and there were no eyewitnesses to confirm his abetment of the crime, stating that the misdirection of the trial court was grave.
The three-member panel condemned the act of lynching, saying the lynching of people should not happen again.
According to the court, no one has the right under the law to lynch anyone and urged the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to intensify public education on curbing lynching within communities.
On January 30, 2024, a seven-member jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on Baah and 11 others for their involvement in the murder of Major Mahama.
Eleven others were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The 12 accused persons, including Baah, were sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court.
Baah, however, through his counsel, Mr Bernard Shaw, filed an appeal against the conviction and sentence.
Baah and some relatives shed tears on hearing the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
He was, however, sent back to prison custody to complete formalities to facilitate his release.
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