- Unemployed man, Derick Squire, remanded for causing harm
- Squire denies being a landguard, admits to smoking weed
- Victim left unconscious with head injuries after alleged attack
An Accra Circuit Court has remanded 32-year-old Derick Squire in police custody for a week on a charge of causing harm. Squire pleaded not guilty to the charge, but the court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, ordered his detention pending further investigations.
Squire’s emotional response to the court’s decision was evident as he wept uncontrollably, questioning the rationale behind the remand. “I have never robbed or stolen from anyone. I am not a landguard, as alleged by the police. I don’t chase women. If I am granted bail, I will be at court at all times,” he pleaded.
Additionally, Squire acknowledged his use of marijuana, stating, “I smoke weed, yes, I admit that I do.”
The court denied a bail application submitted by Squire’s counsel, following Chief Inspector Daniel Danku’s request for a remand to facilitate ongoing investigations.
According to the prosecution, Squire and his gang engaged in a card game after smoking substances suspected to be Indian hemp on October 6, 2024. The incident turned violent when Squire allegedly attacked Michael Adam, a student, with a hefty stick, intending to kill him.
The prosecution alleged that Squire’s drug use emboldened him to attack Adam without provocation, causing him to fall unconscious with blood oozing from his mouth and nostrils.
Adam and his family filed a petition with the Accra Regional Police Command on October 14, 2024, leading to Squire’s arrest. In his caution statement, Squire admitted to committing the offense while under the influence of drugs.
Investigations revealed that Squire is a notorious land guard terrorizing residents in Labadi and its environs, the prosecution noted.
