Court Withdraws Bench Warrant for Arrest of L-100 Student in Ashaley Botwe Murder Case

In what looked like a dramatic turn of events in the Ashaley Botwe alleged murder case, the High Court in Accra has discharged the bench warrant for the arrest of a 23-year-old Level 100 Biological student, Safina Mohammed, accused of murdering her boyfriend, Frank Osei. This decision comes after Safina made an appearance in court shortly after the warrant was issued for failing to show up earlier in the day.

The warrant was issued when Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, sitting as a High Court judge, declared the start of the trial for October 23, after Safina failed to show up. She underscored that the trial was important, noting the absence of the accused and her lawyers without reasonable cause. Safina's lawyers soon made it known to the court that she had failed to appear earlier because of a misunderstanding over the schedule and not because she took lightly the proceedings before the court.

The lawyer for Safina, Samuel Alesu-Dzordzi, however, assured the court that it was not deliberate on the part of his client, adding that Safina was determined to go through with the trial. The judge took into consideration Safina's regular appearance before the court on earlier dates withdrew the warrant for arrest issued against her and reinstated her bail conditions.

The prosecution's case is that Safina, on Sunday, July 24, 2022, at her house, with some accomplices, yet to be identified, attacked Osei and caused his death. Reports say the victim was stabbed and strangled, his body hidden and later taken outside. The case has been adjourned to November 13, 2024, as the prosecution is led by Senior State Attorney Nama Ama Adinkra.

This case keeps on unfolding and illustrates just how cumbersome the court system is and how grave a communication breakdown between the court and representation for the accused truly is.