REGINA vs. ADAMU

JUDGMENT OF VAN LARE J.A. Van Lare, J.A. delivered the judgment of the court: This is another case in which we have, with regret, to review and comment upon the summing-up and judgment of a judge of Assize sitting with assessors. The appellant was charged with attempted abortion, and on this charge he was convicted before Scott J., and sentenced to three years I.H.L. It was said that he had intentionally and unlawfully administered a certain liquid to a woman one Cecilia Yaa Adomah, with intent to commit the said offence. This woman was the first witness for the Crown. She said, inter alia, that she was called by the appellant to a room where Kwabena Owusu was also present. She told the appellant (who knew that she was pregnant) that she was having pains in her stomach. The appellant told her that he would give her medicine to stop the pains. He then gave her some medicine, which he said was for her stomach pains. She took the medicine. Later, she was seized with vomiting, a...