Dr testifies at Mobilla murder trial

Accra, March 31, GNA - A pathologist on Wednesday narrated to an Accra Fast Track High Court, how he conducted autopsy on Alhaji Issah Mobilla, former Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), allegedly murdered by three soldiers.

Dr Kofi Adomako Boateng, Head of the Pathology Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Medical School, Kumasi said before commencing with the autopsy, he asked the Police photographer to snap pictures of the late Alhaji Mobilla.

"All the pictures were put into an album, which had been in my custody since 2004," the witness said.

According to him, the autopsy was conducted in the presence of the Police Sergeant George Mensah Kpligi and a relative of the deceased. He said on 1400 hours of December 17, 2004, he was at the Tamale

Central Hospital Mortuary where he conducted the autopsy on late Alhaji Mobilla's body on behalf of the state. Dr Boateng who is also a Senior Lecturer of KNUST was testifying in

respect of the two soldiers: Private Eric Modzaka and Corporal Yaw Appiah= , who are

being held for the murder of Alhaji Mobilla. The accused who have pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to

murder and murder are in custody.

Their accomplice, Private Seth Goka who is on the run is being tried in absentia. Dr Boateng said after conducting the autopsy, he wrote a report to that

effect. Identifying the report, the seventh prosecution witness said there were

multiple of abrasion all over the body of late Alhaji Mobilla. Dr Boateng said the abrasions were found on the upper part of the

deceased's chest, back, both thighs and legs. There were also fractured ribs. According to the witness, he noticed that the internal organs of the

deceased such as the heart, oesophagus and pancreas were normal. In his report, witness attributed the cause of Mobilla's death as colla= pse in

the left lung, fractured ribs and multiple abrasions. When asked what could have caused the multiple abrasions, witness said

the deceased could have been beaten or kicked. Answering questions under cross-examination by Mr Thaddeus Sory, Dr

Boateng stated that apart from Police Sergeant Kpligi there was no other police

present when the autopsy was conducted. Dr Boateng said it would be difficult for him to tell who inflicted abrasions

on the deceased. Prosecution which was to close its case on Wednesday has put that on

hold. This followed a plea of Alibi filed on behalf of Private Eric Modzaka b= y his

counsel. The Plea of Alibi which is to be investigated by the court includes the=

time,

place of the offence and a line up of witnesses of Modzaka. The court presided over by Mr Justice Senyo Dzamefe, has given defence

counsel 24 hours to file the plea of alibi for it to be investigated and ruling delivered

to that effect. Prosecution's case is that the deceased until his death was a transport

owner and Chairman of Northern Regional Branch of Ghana Private Road Transport

Union. It said on December 9, 2004, the deceased was arrested by the Police=

for allegedly

supplying the youth in Tamale with guns to foment trouble. While in custody, the Police allegedly received information that his=

sympathisers

were mobilising to free him. The deceased was transferred from Police cells to the Kamina Militar= y Barracks

and handed over to the three accused persons who searched, undressed and put him

in the guard room. At about 2130 hours the same day, the Police received information th= at Alhaji

Mobilla aka Issah Mohammed had collapsed and died in cells. Hearing continues on April 14.