Crime & Punishment of Saturday, 14 September 2013

Source: Daily Guide

Trader chews woman’s lips

A trade who bit off the lip of his landlady while embracing her has been found guilty of causing harm by an Accra Circuit Court.

The convict, Joseph Nelson Dauda, had requested money from his landlady to pay a fare.

The lady, Sara Mills refused to give the convict the money he demanded. Dauda, in a friendly mood, pretended he wanted to hug the lady and ended up biting off a portion of her lips.

The court presided over by Ellen Amoah convicted Dauda after finding him guilty of the charge levelled against him.

The court ordered Dauda to pay a fine of GH¢300 and compensate the victim with GH¢397.

Dauda was also ordered to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for six months.

However, the victim, who seemed dissatisfied with the judgment, has filed processes to go on appeal.

The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Jubiok Michaels, disclosed that the complainant is a trader residing at Mamprobi while Dauda is a trader who once lived in the complainant’s house as a tenant.

The prosecutor stated that on the evening of June 8, 2013, the complainant was sitting in her compound with a witness when the convict arrived there in a taxi.

When the convict got down the driver demanded the fare. Dauda, reportedly looking tipsy rushed on the complainant, embraced her and requested that she gave him money to pay the driver.

Madam Sara, the prosecutor said, declined but before she could say anything further, the convict bit a portion of her lip off.

In an attempt to free herself from the grip of the convict, the complainant fell down and in the process sustained an injury on her knee.

Some observers then rushed to rescue the complainant, arrested Dauda and handed him over to the police.

Chief Inspector Jubiok disclosed that the convict in his caution statement admitted the offence but stated that he committed the act under the influence of alcohol and pleaded for mercy.

However, after police investigation, he was put before the court on a charge of causing harm.