DOGBE AND OTHERS vs. THE REPUBLIC [1976]DLHC380

Date	1976-03-19
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1976]DLHC380

TAYLOR J.

B. G. HUTCHFUL FOR THE APPLICANTS.

KALEO BIO PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE REPUBLIC.

[1976]DLHC380
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >DOGBE AND OTHERS<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;vs. <o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH
COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;[1976] 2 GLR 82<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

DATE:
19 MARCH 1976.<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

B. G. HUTCHFUL FOR THE APPLICANTS.<o:p></o:p>

KALEO BIO, PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY, FOR THE
REPUBLIC.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

TAYLOR J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF TAYLOR J.<o:p></o:p>I find
the decision I am about to deliver distressing in view of the remarks which I
am obliged to make in the course of delivering it, remarks which I would have
preferred not to make but which in the view I take of my judicial functions I
have to make to ensure that the rule of law is respected by members of the bar
committed to uphold it.<o:p></o:p>On 22
December 1975 I dismissed an application for bail made to this court on behalf
of the seventeen applicants herein. Before me now the applicants have renewed
the said application by the same counsel who filed the previous application.
This is an application for bail pending trial and because the charges the
applicants face are murder and abetment of murder the application deserves very
serious consideration indeed. In order to appreciate the legal principles which
in my view must be brought to play in considering the application I think it is
necessary to advert to the grounds on which the applicants are proceeding. The
said grounds are contained in the affidavit in support of the motion paper
which is sworn to by one of the accused persons. I set it down fully as
follows:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“(1) That
I am the deponent herein and know all the accused persons. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(2) That
I am one of the accused persons herein and have the authority and concurrence
of all the other accused persons to swear to this affidavit. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(3) That
the first accused is charged with murder and all the rest with aiding and
abetting. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(4) That
on Wednesday, 10 December 1975, a motion for bail was moved on our behalf. (5)
That this honourable court dismissed the application on the strength of
N.R.C.D. 309. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(6) That
I will crave the indulgence of the court to refer to parts of the affidavit in
support of that motion. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(7) That
consequently we caused a petition to be made to the Head of State dated 3
January 1976, (vide copy attached as exhibit A). <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(8) That
as a result of the petition our solicitor received a reply from the
Attorney-General (vide copy hereto attached as exhibit B) and it is on the
strength of this reply that the present application is being made. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(9) That
apart from the four persons mentioned in exhibit B I am also asking bail for
the accused persons on the grounds: That the accused persons were arrested on
31 January 1974; that they attended court at Tema till they were committed for
trial to the High Court in June 1975.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(ii) Since 1 June 1975 we have been in
custody awaiting trial and up to now no date has been fixed for the trial. That
the uncertainty of the time of trial and the long incarceration in the cells
has affected the health of so many of the accused persons that following from
the temper and tone of the Attorney-General’s opinion stated in exhibit B it
will be in keeping to grant all others bail pending appeal</main>