Accra, Sept. 22, GNA – The Prosecution in the case in which Edwin Eastman, the boyfriend of late Suzzy Malike Williams, an actress, is charged with four counts including careless driving, on Thursday told the La District Magistrate’s Court that it was transferring the matter to the Circuit Court.
Prosecuting Chief Inspector Mary Adika, therefore, prayed the court to discharge the accused person.
But soon after discharging Eastman, he was re-arrested and whisked away in a blue-black bus leaving his mother and brothers in tears. Suzzy and Eastman were travelling along the Beach Road in Accra when their vehicle got involved in an accident near La Palm Royal Beach Hotel resulting in the death of the Actress.
Discharging Eastman, the court noted that it had jurisdiction to try the accused person on only two of the four charges levelled against Eastman – careless and inconsiderate driving; negligently causing harm; driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to report an accident.
The Court said it granted the Prosecution’s request because it would be unlawful to insist that the trial should go at the Magistrate’s Court.
But the Defence team led by Mr Ellis Owusu-Fordjour renewed their application for bail saying the Court had the jurisdiction to offer bail to Eastman.
Mr Owusu-Fordjour noted that soon after the accused person’s arrest and in order not to go contrary to the 48-hour deadline, he was brought to a competent court of jurisdiction in order to be kept in lawful custody.
According to him the Court had competent jurisdiction to admit Eastman to bail. He argued that Eastman had lived in the country for the past 15 years and schooled in Accra and urged the Court to disabuse its mind that he would abscond when granted bail.
Counsel expressed his client’s readiness to stand trial at any time if the Court offered him bail.
“In this era when we are all championing the rule of law, why should he be incarnated for such a long time?” he asked. Relatives of Eastman, who thronged the court, left dejected while others broke down in tears expressing their disappointment. On September 19, the court after listening to submissions from both the Prosecution and Defence declined bail but informed the Prosecution that it was giving them the last adjournment to complete investigations. 22 Sept. 05
Source: GhanaWeb
