An Accra High Court has rejected the bail application of Prince Charles Dedjoe, a business executive, accused of murdering his wife at East Legon, Accra.
The Court presided over by Mrs Justice Merilyn Wood, said looking at the nature of the offence and severity of punishment, she was not convinced the accused person would appear for trial when granted bail.
"I am not convinced looking at the seriousness of the offence and the severity of punishment that the applicant would appear to stand trial. Application for bail is refused," the Court ruled.
It said although the grant of bail was discretional, the law mandated the Court to take a look at the nature of accusation and the severity of punishment among other things.
Dedjoe has been charged with murder and declined bail by the Madina District Court.
He is alleged to have beaten his wife, Lilian Dedjoe, with slippers, resulting in her death.
Arguing for bail earlier, Captain Retired Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, in a 10-point grounds for bail, said the High Court was clothed with jurisdiction to grant bail, stressing that a person was presumed innocent until a court of competent jurisdiction had ruled otherwise.
Captain Effah-Dartey said his client had a fixed place of abode and people of substance who would stand as sureties for him.
The defence counsel argued that the autopsy report produced by the pathologist gave the cause of death as blunt head injury as a result of a fall, saying that had no relation to a slap.
He said the accused was the breadwinner and his children needed him more and that he should be granted bail so he could also provide a befitting burial for his late wife.
Madam Salasie Kuwornu, Senior State Attorney, opposed the grant of bail, saying investigations were underway.
She said the Court, in granting bail, should consider the interest of the public and the safety of the accused person.
The State Attorney noted that in the case at hand, the accused person’s safety was at stake.
On March 22, this year, the Madina District Court declined Dedjoe bail because it did not have the jurisdiction to grant it and urged defence counsel to apply at the High Court.
Prosecution said the complainant was the deceased’s father who was a retired administrator, residing at Sogakope in the Volta Region.
It said Lilian was married to Dedjoe and they lived at East legon in Accra.
Prosecution said Dedjoe and the deceased’s relationship had, for some time, been marred with some misunderstanding leading to conflicts between them.
On March 2, this year, a misunderstanding ensued between them and as a result Dedjoe assaulted Lilian who sustained injuries and went to the Madina Polyclinic for treatment.
The prosecution said when Lilian returned home, her condition deteriorated and on March 6, this year, she went into coma and was rushed to the Lister Hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival.
A report was made to the police and Dedjoe was arrested. During investigations, he admitted assaulting Lilian with slippers.
He is being held on the charge of murder with his plea preserved by the District Court.
Latest Stories
-
Atta Akyea unenthused with ECG over refusal to release timetable
14 mins -
Bawumia mobbed in Ejisu at John Kumah’s one week funeral observance
23 mins -
We have a stable national grid; outages due to localised faults – ECG
1 hour -
Easter celebration: Ghana AIDS Commission to distribute free condoms in Kwahu
2 hours -
Zeepay secures additional $3m from Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund
2 hours -
Over 70% of power outages were due to planned maintenance works – ECG to PURC
2 hours -
Access Bank partners Horseman Shoes to boost local shoe manufacturing industry
2 hours -
Election 2024: Don’t vote for candidates making empty promises – CDD to Ghanaians
2 hours -
IGP shares Easter safety tips on Adom FM’s ‘Ofie Kwanso’
2 hours -
Ebo Whyte offers fully-funded trip as he unveils new play ‘Dubai or No Sex’
3 hours -
Ancient culture of Anlo Kingdom: Exploring “Torkor Atorlia,” the fifth landing stage’s old ways of punishment
3 hours -
Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Botswana, Cameroon and Sierra Leone to lead discussions at Africa Finance Corporation’s (AFC) 4th Country & Stakeholder Symposium
3 hours -
Network International Delivers Strong 2023 Revenue growth at 15% y/y and free cashflow growth of 16% y/y
3 hours -
President Akufo-Addo extends Easter Greetings to Ghanaians, urges safe drive
4 hours -
Government pushes for use of more local materials in housing, other infrastructure projects
4 hours