The Ho District Court 1 has adjourned for the second time the case involving Philip Cesar Kumah, a former Akatsi North staffer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in the Volta Region.
Kumah, who doubles as a student of the Evangelical Presbyterian University in Ho, allegedly physically assaulted his girlfriend, Elizabeth Yesutor Akpalu, who then died on 8 March.
Family members say Akpalu’s death resulted directly from the alleged assault.
The case has been adjourned to Monday 12 April and Kumah has once again been remanded in police custody.
The court heard that there are errors in the charge sheet presented by the prosecution against the accused, hence the adjournment.
Kumah is said to have beaten Akpalu, his fiancée, on many occasions prior to her death, prompting family members to say that led to the death of their daughter.
Kumah made his first appearance at the same court on Friday 12 March 2021 when the prosecution prayed the court for adjournment to enable further investigation.
Speaking to the media after the court proceedings, Raymond Akpatsa, the lawyer representing Kumah, said his client must be bailed because, “per the constitution, an accused person is not to be treated as a convicted person.”
He said he has filed an application at the Ho High Court asking that his client be considered for bail, but the application is pending ruling.
Responding to the court’s view, Akpatsa added: “Prosecution was in a bit of rush to bring the matter before court. I’ll say they have not done in-depth investigation to establish anything against the accused person before bringing him before court to have him remanded.”
Albert Kuzor
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