An Accra High Court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of 23-year-old Safina Mohammed, also known as Safina Diamond, who is facing charges for the alleged murder of her boyfriend, Frank Osei.
The warrant was issued after both Safina and her legal team failed to appear in court for a scheduled hearing today October 23, 2024.
Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, expressed her disappointment at the absence of the accused and her lawyers.
“We were supposed to have a date with the jury and the lawyers today for the trial to commence,” Justice Marfo stated.
“Accidentally, the accused person and her lawyers are absent without any reasonable cause. A bench warrant is hereby issued for her arrest.”
Nana Ama Adinkra, a Senior State Attorney, was present during the proceedings.
Background of the Case
Safina Mohammed, a Level 100 Biological Sciences student, is charged with the murder of Frank Osei, her boyfriend, who lived in Canada.
She has pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
In earlier court proceedings, the prosecution outlined plans to call nine witnesses, including another of Safina’s boyfriends and five police officers, to establish that Osei’s death resulted from unlawful harm inflicted by the accused.
The prosecution presented evidence that a knife, confirmed through DNA analysis to belong to Osei, was used in the crime.
A DNA test performed on July 29, 2022, indicated that Osei had died unnaturally, with medical experts concluding that he had likely been dead for at least 72 hours before his body was discovered.
Allegations and Defense
According to the prosecution, on July 24, 2022, Osei, who was on vacation in Ghana, spent the night at Safina’s residence in Ashaley Botwe School Junction.
That night, Safina, along with unidentified accomplices, allegedly stabbed Osei and strangled him.
The prosecution claims they then cleaned the blood from the floor and left Osei’s body in the room for 24 hours before dragging it down the staircase and disposing of it at the gate of the house, where Osei’s vehicle was parked.
Safina reportedly called the police, stating that her boyfriend had died in her room.
When officers arrived, they discovered Osei’s body outside the house, leading to Safina’s arrest.
Defense attorney Samuel Alesu-Dordzi has urged the jury to maintain fairness and objectivity throughout the trial.
He expressed surprise at the prosecution’s claims regarding the nature of Safina and Osei’s relationship, urging the jury to consider both sides of the story and disregard any social media commentary related to the case.
The bench warrant for Safina’s arrest reflects the court’s commitment to ensuring her presence for the ongoing proceedings.
The trial is expected to resume once she is apprehended.
