Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 15 November 2005

Source: GNA

Court orders accused to consult his pastor

Juaso (Ash), Nov 15, GNA - The Juaso circuit court on Monday ordered an accused person who attempted to commit suicide by taking DDT to consult his pastor for counseling after cautioning and discharging him.

Christopher Kwaku Atta pleaded guilty to one count of attempting suicide but prayed the court to discharge him on the promise that he did not know what came over him.

After almost 20 minutes of interrogation by Mr Jacob B. Boon, the presiding judge, Atta disclosed that he had wanted to take his own life because he could not raise money to open his own carpentry shop and was still depending on his father. At this point, the judge said even if he fined the accused it was

the father who would pay and therefore cautioned and discharged him. Presenting the facts of the case, Chief Police Inspector K.I. Mahama of the Juaso police told the court that the complainant of the case was a medical doctor at the Juaso district hospital. He said on November 8, this year, Atta was rushed to the hospital very weak and was on the verge of dying but the complainant managed to resuscitate him.

Chief Inspector Mahama said the complainant detected that Atta had

taken in DDT and reported the matter to the Juaso police. He said the accused was arrested after being discharged and admitted taking the chemical during interrogation and was, therefore, charged with the offence.