High Court Retakes Plea in Murder Case of Former MP J.B. Danquah-Adu
On Thursday, the Accra High Court directed Daniel Asiedu, also known by the moniker Sexy Dondon, to retake his plea in the trial for the alleged murder of former Abuakwa North Member of Parliament J.B. Danquah-Adu. The proceedings mark a significant development in a case that has lingered in the Ghanaian legal system for nearly a decade, tracing back to the violent death of the legislator on February 9, 2016.
The defendant, identified as a local trader, entered a plea of not guilty to both robbery and murder charges when the case was called before the presiding judge. Following the plea, the court ordered Asiedu to remain in lawful custody, scheduling his next appearance for July 8, 2026, to allow for necessary pre-trial preparations.
The prosecution’s narrative alleges that on the night of the incident, Asiedu circumvented the security measures at Danquah-Adu’s residence in the Shiashie area of Accra. Utilizing a ladder found on the property, he allegedly accessed the MP’s bedroom through a window that lacked adequate burglar-proofing. The prosecution contends that the deceased, who had been asleep, was roused by the intrusion, precipitating a physical altercation. During this confrontation, Asiedu is accused of inflicting multiple stab wounds to the victim’s neck and chest before fleeing the premises with two iPhones and a Samsung mobile phone belonging to the MP.
In the aftermath of the attack, the prosecution asserts that Asiedu sought temporary shelter in an adjacent dwelling, where he attempted to cleanse the bloodstains from his hands. The vigilance of the security personnel proved crucial; upon discovering the ladder left behind, the guard immediately raised an alarm, setting in motion the chain of events that would lead to the suspect’s identification and subsequent arrest.
Further, the prosecution alleges that Asiedu later enlisted the assistance of an acquaintance to have two of the stolen mobile phones serviced. It was during this repair transaction that the technician reportedly observed suspicious bloodstains on the devices and, upon closer inspection, discovered photographs of the deceased individual. Recognizing the potential significance of his findings, the repairer promptly contacted the police, providing a critical lead in the investigation.
Law enforcement officials state that Asiedu was apprehended shortly thereafter, and the forensic examination recovered the Samsung telephone taken from Danquah-Adu from the defendant’s possession. Crucially, analysts from the Ghana Police Service’s Forensic Science Laboratory reportedly concluded that fingerprint evidence recovered from the scene of the crime matched those of the accused, bolstering the prosecution’s case for identity and presence at the location.
Asiedu has been detained without bail since his arrest in 2016, awaiting the resolution of the charges against him. The case had previously progressed to trial, culminating in a verdict delivered by a seven-member jury on December 4, 2024. The jury’s deliberations resulted in a split decision, with four members voting to convict on the murder charge and three voting to acquit. This lack of unanimity, required under Ghanaian law for a conviction in such matters, triggered the necessity for a complete retrial, wiping the slate clean for both the prosecution and the defence.
With the plea formally retaken before a newly assigned trial judge, the court’s attention now turns to the essential case management phase. Both the prosecution and defence teams are expected to make submissions regarding procedural matters, evidence disclosure, and potential trial dates. Only after these preliminary steps are satisfactorily completed will the court proceed to empanel a fresh jury of seven citizens tasked with hearing the evidence anew and rendering a verdict based solely on the facts presented during the retrial.
The case continues to attract considerable public and media interest, not only due to the tragic loss of a publicly elected official but also because it underscores persistent challenges related to residential security and the administration of justice in high-profile cases. As the legal machinery grinds forward, the Ghanaian public will be watching closely to see whether the retrial can achieve the consensus that eluded the first jury, thereby providing a measure of closure to a case that has haunted the nation for almost ten years.
The outcome of this retrial will not only determine the legal culpability of the accused but also serve as a benchmark for the efficacy of Ghana’s judicial system in handling sensitive, high-stakes cases that involve public figures and attract national scrutiny.
Image Source: GHANA BUSINESS NEWS
