ERNEST YANFUL ACQUAH (APPELLANT) vs. THE REPUBLIC (RESPONDENT) [2011]DLCA7891

Date	2011-07-07
Suit No.	CRIMINAL APPEAL SUIT NO. H2/32/2010
Citation No.	[2011]DLCA7891

ABBAN (MRS) JA (PRESIDING)

APALOO JA

HONYENUGA JA

MR. J. K. YEBOAH – COUNSEL FOR THE APPELLANT

MR. ANTHONY REXFORD WIREDU - PSA FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL

[2011]DLCA7891
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ERNEST YANFUL ACQUAH<o:p></o:p>(APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>[COURT
OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

CRIMINAL
APPEAL SUIT NO. H2/32/2010&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; DATE:
7TH JULY, 2011<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>MR.
J. K. YEBOAH – COUNSEL FOR THE APPELLANT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

MR.
ANTHONY REXFORD WIREDU - PSA FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL <o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

ABBAN
(MRS) JA (PRESIDING), APALOO JA, HONYENUGA JA<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

</div>APALOO JA:&nbsp; This
is an appeal from the High Court Sekondi dated 11th July 2008.&nbsp; The High Court overturned the decision of the
Circuit Court which had previously acquitted and discharged the appellant on
one count of defilement contrary to section 101(1) and (2) of Act 29 as amended
by Act 554.<o:p></o:p>By
his notice of appeal pursuant to leave of this court the appellant filed (4)
four grounds of appeal.&nbsp; The grounds
were;<o:p></o:p>“1.&nbsp; &nbsp;The
medical report based on which the charge of defilement &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; was prosecuted against the appellant ……
was not conclusive &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; that the victim had been defiled.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>2.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The High Court Judge failed to
consider the apparent &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; inconsistencies in the evidence of PW1,
the victim.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp; 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The defence was not adequately considered by the High&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Court sitting as an appellant Court.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>&nbsp; 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The sentence is harsh and excessive”.<o:p></o:p>Although
the appellant stated that upon receipt of the record further grounds of appeal
would be filed, it is noted that no further or other grounds were filed. <o:p></o:p>Briefly
stated, the case of the prosecution was that the victim, a ten year old was a
class 6 pupil of Future Leaders Education Centre in Takoradi, whilst the
appellant until his conviction by the High Court was a teacher at Kojokrom Top
Hill Preparatory School.&nbsp; Appellant it
was noted was a former teacher of the victim in Class 5 at Future Leaders
Education Centre.&nbsp; On 11/10/07 after
school had closed, the victim and two other pupils sought shelter in the house
of the appellant as it was drizzling.&nbsp;&nbsp;
When the drizzle stopped and the three pupils informed the appellant
that they were leaving his house, the appellant requested the victim to remain
in the house to enable her run an errand for him.&nbsp; According to the prosecution the appellant in
the absence of the two pupils, took the victim into his room where he forcibly
had sex with her.&nbsp; The mother of the
victim later observed the unusual walking of the child, took her to a clinic
where the victim revealed what had been done to her.&nbsp; A report was subsequently made to the Police
and she was issued with Police Medical Form and </main>