The judge has subsequently dismissed the case after the state prosecutors filed a nolle prosequi. Stating the reasons for their decision the state prosecutors said “the vicitm in this case Ewureffe is still very unwilling to testify in court.
The AG is mindful of the provisions under the prosecutors code one of which is that the best interest of the victim is to be considered in cases of this nature in deciding whether to prosecute a case or not.”
“The other witness in this case who are mostly family members of Ewureffe are also unwilling to testify,” the lawyers said.
Below is the full statement the state prosecutors presented in court today, Wednesday 22nd April.
The Attorney General has entered a nolle prosequi for the following reasons:
1 The Victim in this case Ewureffe is still very unwilling to testify in court. The victim states that she is highly traumatized by the events on the day of the incident and its aftermath and so is not in the right frame of mind to appear before the court.
Thus the Attorney General believes that it is not in the best interest of the victim and the prosecution to present her before the court at this point in time. The AG is mindful of the provisions under the Prosecutors code one of which is that the best interest of the victim is to be considered in cases of this nature in deciding whether to prosecute a case or not.
2. The other witness in this case who are mostly family members of Ewureffe are also unwilling to testify. The AG believed in the case and so held on to it with the hope that the witnesses will willingly appear to testify when they are needed by the court. This is not to say that the AG is unaware of the various legal processes at her disposal to compel the witnesses to appear before the court.
It is to be noted that the AG still believes in the case and reserves the right to commence the prosecution once the victim and witnesses are ready.
Signed
Attorney-General
