Family of woman allegedly killed at Cedar Crescent lament slow pace of trial

Family members of Comfort Owusu Afriyie, the businesswoman who was allegedly killed at the Cedar Crescent Hotel in Kumasi last year, have expressed frustrations over the slow pace of prosecution in the matter.

Comfort Owusu Afriyie was allegedly killed on January 2, 2020.

According to the police, their preliminary investigations showed that the main suspect, Edwin Awuku went with her to the hotel where he allegedly killed her and blamed it on armed robbers.

After a year and four months of going to court, the case has now reached the committal stage and is yet to be transferred from the Asokwa District Court to a High court because the district courts do not have jurisdiction over murder cases.

The court has now charged the main suspect, Edwin Awuku with murder while his wife, Belinda Awuku has been charged with the deception of a public officer after she joined the husband to report to the police that they were attacked by armed robbers.

The daughter of Comfort Owusu Afriyie, Susanna Boakye said they want justice to be served and the case to be handled properly and quickly.

“We, the family and the friends of my mother want to know why we are still coming to court for over a year now and justice has still not prevailed because she is not an ordinary person to us. We want to know every process this case goes through.”

“When you went to the hotel you saw the gun, my mum’s phone and stains on the man’s shirt. You also went to his house and saw enough evidence on the matter. Initially, he lied that there were armed robbers there, but there we no armed robbery attack that day and this is enough evidence to show that he lied. So something should be done fast for justice to prevail rather than continuously adjourning the case and slowing things down,” she added