THE REPUBLIC vs. AKWESI OWUSU & 5 ORS

JUDGMENT 1 Introduction The six accused persons were on 22 February 2022 arraigned before this court summarily on eight criminal charges: conspiracy; robbery; causing harm; causing unlawful damage; threat of death, and of possession of arms and ammunition without authority against A5 and A1 respectively.1 Represented by their respective two lawyers, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges - conspiracy (Count 1), two counts of robbery (Counts 2 and 3) the charge of causing unlawful damage (Count 4), and the two counts of causing harm (Counts 5 and 6). Concerning the two specific charges – Count 7 and Count 8 against A1 and A5, both denied the charges - possession of arms and ammunition without authority (Count 7) and the charge of a threat of death (Count 8). 1 That is, the Criminal Offenses Act, 1960 (Act 29) ss. 23(1); 149; 69; 172; 75; and section 11 of Arms and Ammunitions Act, 1972 (NRCD 9). 1 Brief facts of the case as provided by the police Th.....