The Konongo-Odumasi District Court has today November, 8, 2021 remanded the five students of the Konongo Odumasi Senior High School who are being held over the murder of their colleague student.
According to reports, they have been remanded for seven days and will be kept at the Juaso juvenile detention center and are expected to return to Court on November 15, on a provisional charge of murder and abetment of crime.
The students are standing trial in connection with the stabbing of a 15-year-old first-year student on Friday 5th November 2021 and are facing the murder-related charges in the case held in camera because of their juvenile status.
The Court presided over by Her Worship Joyce Bamfo denied a bail request by counsel for the first accused, Richard Adu Darko, the prime suspect whilst granting police submission for time to conclude investigations. She also referred the matter to the supervising High Court Judge to ensure due processes are followed because of the ages of the accused persons.
The first accused person has been charged provisionally with murder, while the four others were charged with abetment to commit a crime.
The students allegedly went on bullying spree on Friday night after prep hours leading to the attack on the deceased, Sam’un Larhan. Larhan Sam’un, the deceased, was allegedly stabbed with a knife by his colleague after he attempted to resolve a scuffle between the suspect and his mates.
Police beefs up investigation team
Meanwhile, the Konongo Divisional Police Commander, Chief Supritendent Shaibu Abubakar Sadiq Osei, in an interaction with the media said a team has been set up to facilitate investigations into the matter.
“We have within six months per the juvenile justice system to finish trial. For that reason, we have put together an investigative team because we don’t want one person to conduct investigation to slow down proceedings. The command has added two other investigators to the original investigator to ensure that we are within the time frame”.
Shaibu Abubakar Sadiq Osei
The Chief Superintendent revealed that the court has directed the registrar to forward all recordings to the supervising High Court judge to direct the court on the next line of action. He explained that it is so because the suspects cannot be remanded for more than 7 days.
“So, next week we will come back to court and since they are in our custody, we will investigate the matter and update the court, and we have within six months to finish the trial, and we have put up an investigative team to ensure that we are within time”.
Shaibu Abubakar Sadiq Osei
The Chief Superintendent said the suspects appeared remorseful when they appeared before the judge for Monday’s proceedings. He averred that it is quite unfortunate that children at this stage will commit such offense, but for now, “it is an alleged crime”.
“We pleaded for bail for them, but the court declined it. When they reappear, the court will continue the process. Their pleas were not taken because this is not a court that has jurisdiction over the matter. When the committal process ends here, then they will go to the high court and their pleas will be taken”.
Shaibu Abubakar Sadiq Osei
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