- The verdict for Kasoa ritual killers has been postponed for a third time
- The jurors have been on strike since May 16
- The next hearing is set for July 23
The verdict for two teenagers accused of conspiring to murder 10-year-old Ishmael Mensah Abdella has been postponed for the third time due to an ongoing jurors’ strike.
Since May 16, jurors have been on strike over unpaid allowances spanning 10 months, causing significant delays in ongoing trials. In the case of the teenagers accused of murder, the trial has reached its final stages but has been repeatedly adjourned.
Initially scheduled for verdict on May 7 and then again on June 24, the case was again stalled today, July 8, as jurors were absent from court. The proceedings require closing arguments from both the prosecution and defense, followed by the judge’s summation for the jury to reach a decision.
Despite efforts to proceed, including the transfer of the 18-year-old defendant to prison custody, delays persist. The 15-year-old defendant was expected in court but did not appear, with his lawyers citing his imminent arrival.
Acknowledging the grief of the deceased’s family, who were unable to attend due to a recent bereavement, a senior State Attorney requested and was granted an adjournment by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo. Proceedings are now scheduled to resume on July 23.
The impact of the jurors’ strike extends beyond this case, affecting other high-profile trials including those of former MP J.B. Danquah, Gregory Afoko, and the Abessim murder trial.
