DENYO vs. THE STATE

JUDGMENT OF SOWAH J. The appellant was on 15 January 1966 charged with the offence of abduction of an unmarried female under the age of eighteen years contrary to section 91 of the Criminal Code, 1960,1 and was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour. The appellant who is 21 years of age was not represented at his trial and denied the charge of detaining the girl in his house, though he admitted making love to her on several occasions during their brief love affair. From the record of proceedings he did not appear to appreciate the essence of the charge against him as he appeared to think that the girl’s willingness was an answer to the charge. As said before he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, a sentence which I consider was out of all proportion to the offence considering the ages of the girl and the accused. Fortunately for the appellant when the case came on appeal, Mr. Boye volunteered to appear for him as the appellant was not in a...