Judge unhappy over delay in presidential accident case

The judge in the Thomas Osei case, Mr Justice E. K. Ayebi, has expressed disquiet over the delay by the prosecution in the handling of the case.

Mr Justice Ayebi — who is presiding over an Accra Fast Track High Court where the case involving Osei, the man who ran his car into the President's convoy, is being heard — showed his concern after the prosecution had made a request for an adjournment to enable two doctors who had been subpoenaed to testify on the adjourned date.

The two doctors were expected to have testified in court yesterday but were both absent.
“Counsel, why are you delaying this case?” Justice Ayebi asked Mr Edward Duodo, a state attorney.

Mr Duodo explained that although the subpoena had been sent last Monday, June 2, 2008 to the 37 Military Hospital where the doctors worked, it was handed over to one of them just this morning while the other doctor was on leave.

The two doctors were said to have treated two victims of the accident, Pastor Osei Kufuor, who had his car hit by the President's car, and Mr Osafo Addo, the President's driver.

The two doctors are expected to be the last of the prosecution witnesses after which Thomas Osei will open his defence.

Mr Justice Ayebi said the subpoena should have been served within a reasonable time frame.
He later adjourned the case to June 12, 2008.

He faces six counts of use of narcotic drugs, dangerous driving, negligently causing harm, driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to give way to a Presidential convoy.

Source: Daily Graphic