Issa Mobilla murder trial: One freed, 2 to open defence

One of the three persons standing trial for the murder of former Convention People’s Party Northern Regional Chairman Issah Mobilla has been acquitted.

Eric Modzaka was acquitted of both charges of conspiracy and murder by an Accra High Court.

The other two accused - Corporal Yaw Appiah and Seth Goka - have also been acquitted of the charge of conspiracy.

They have however been asked to open their defence in the murder charge.

Lawyer for the accused, Mr Thaddeus Sory entered a submission of no case after the prosecution earlier this year concluded its case.

He argued the evidence adduced by the prosecution in support of the charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder brought against the three “was not sufficient to make out the prosecution’s case against the accused.”

“Essential ingredients of the offences for which they were charged,” he told Joy News, “were not satisfied at the close of the prosecution’s case and that is the reason why we made that submission and the judge rightly [partly] upheld our submission.”

Corporal Yaw Appiah, Private Eric Modzaka and Private Seth Goka, who is now at large, had been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

They were accused of being responsible for the death of Alhaji Mobila who was the chairman of the CPP in the Northern Region and who died while in military custody on December 7, 2004 just after the general elections.

The three accused were then serving officers at the 6th Battalion of Infantry (Kamina Barracks) in Tamale.

The case has been in court for about two years now.

From: Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com