Crime & Punishment of Monday, 2 October 2017

Source: ghanacrusader.com

Court frees two alleged rapists for lack of evidence

Inconsistencies in the evidence of the witnesses formed the bases to discharge the accused persons Inconsistencies in the evidence of the witnesses formed the bases to discharge the accused persons

Two persons accused of defiling a seven year old girl have been acquitted and discharged by an Accra High court.

In her ruling the presiding judge, Mrs. Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku stated that the prosecution failed to prove that the two accused persons were guilty.

She further added that the inconsistencies in the evidence of the witnesses called before her formed the bases to discharge the accused persons.

The accused persons Frederick Owusu 28 and Seth Awukuvi 24 have been arrested and charged with defilement.

Prosecuting, Inspector Judith Asante narrated to the Court that the complainant was a businesswoman with whom both the victim and the accused persons lived at Abladjei-Parka at Adenta.

According to her, on June 27, 2015, the complainant was bathing the victim and in the process of washing her vagina, she detected some sores there.

The victim then mentioned the accused persons as those who had defiled her, but warned her not tell anyone.

As stated by the prosecution, the victim claimed Owusu had sex with her anytime the complainant was absent.

The second accused person, Awukuvi, was also said to have defiled the victim severally in the house.

Following the discovery by the complainant, she proceeded to file a formal complaint with the police at Adenta on September 17, 2015, and the accused persons were arrested, while the victim was issued a medical form for examination.