Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 14 July 2004

Source: GNA

Labourer fined for stabbing

Accra, July 14, GNA- An Accra Circuit Court presided over by Mrs Elizabeth Ankomah on Wednesday fined Kwabena Salifu, a labourer, two million cedis for stabbing Samuel Assien, a cushion liner. He would serve a two-year jail term in default.

Salifu pleaded guilty to unlawful and intentionally causing harm. The accused would also pay all the hospital bills of the victim and an additional two million cedis as compensation to Mr Samuel Assien. Chief Inspector George Abavelin said the complainant and the accused live in the same area at Teshie.

He said some few weeks prior to the incident, one Daewu, a mason who lived in the same house with the accused engaged the complainant as a labourer but failed to pay him for his work.

Chief Inspector Abavelin said Daewu told the complainant that he was travelling and would leave the money with his wife.

He said at about 0800 hours on June 8, the complainant saw the accused and asked him if Daewu's wife was in the house. The accused was offended and exchanged words with him.

The prosecutor said a few minutes after that, Assien went to the house to see Daewu's wife for the money.

Salifu on seeing Assien picked a quarrel with him. In the heat of the quarrel, the accused entered his room and came out with a knife, which he used to stab the complainant in the abdomen. Chief Inspector Abavallin said the complainant shouted for help and some people came and rushed him to 37 Military Hospital.