An application for a stay of proceedings in the criminal trial of James Gyakye Quayson, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Assin North, has been adjourned to July 4 by the Accra High Court.
The trial Judge, Justice Mary Yanzuh, stated that the adjournment was necessary because the court had not received all of the application documents.
Mr. Quayson’s lawyers told the court that the application is to stay proceedings in the High Court so that the Court of Appeal can decide whether or not the High Court was correct to order that Gyakye Quayson’s criminal trial be heard on a daily basis.
Speaking to journalists after the adjournment, a member of the legal team Dammy Gyamfo said, “Lawyers for the accused need ample time to cross-examine the first witness, and it is totally unacceptable for Her Ladyship to say that cross-examination should be done on a daily basis and should be restricted to certain limited time periods, we don’t think that affords the accused a fair hearing and that is why we are raising all these issues”.
“Lawyers for Quayson are trying to avoid a kangaroo trial, a situation where things are hurried at the expense of the constitutionally guaranteed rights of accused persons that lawyers for Quayson are trying to avoid for which reason they have filed this appeal challenging the ruling of the trial judge and pending the determination of this matter, have filed the stay of proceedings, and we are looking forward to having the opportunity on the 4th of July to move the application formally, and it is our hope that the judge will do the right thing and abide the determination of the appeal before proceeding with this matter.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
