[2014]DLCA4486 Login to Read Full Case <span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:#00B0F0">MAXWELL KOFI GYASI<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">(APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:#00B0F0">THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">(RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in; mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. H2/15/2012 31<sup>ST</sup> JULY, 14<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:115%"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">COUNSEL:<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"">MR. AUGUSTINES OBOUR FOR THE APPELLANT<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">MISS PENELOPE-ANN MAMATTAH (CSA) FOR THE REPUBLIC RESPONDENTS<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:115%"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">CORAM:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"">KUSI-APPIAH J.A [PRESIDING], GYAESAYOR J.A, C. SOWAH J.A<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;border-right:none; padding:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"">GYAESAYOR J.A.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The appellant herein was tried and convicted for conspiracy to rob and robbery contrary to Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, Act 29 of 1960 and Section 149 of the same Act as amended by Act 646 of 2003. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">FACTS<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The appellant together with two others were said to have snatched a Nissan <span class="ndesc">Primera</span> from the complainant one Osei Kwadwo on 9<sup>th</sup> May 2005 at the Ahamadiya Senior High School gate, Kumasi. This was after they had hired the taxi cab of complainant. At the gate, the three came down while one of them removed a gun and threatened to kill him. A3 removed the key and they took the taxi away and abandoned it at Ejisu Kwaso.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The following morning the police had information that some people were firing guns indiscriminately and they went there to arrest A1 and A2 but could not arrest A3 who bolted away. Accused persons were identified at an identification parade held by the police.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">They were subsequently tried and convicted and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment on 29<sup>th</sup> July 2009. On 16<sup>th</sup> January 2012 appellant was granted extension of time to appeal against the conviction and sentence.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The notice of appeal disclose the following grounds of appeal; namely<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Book Antiqua";mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"">a.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The appellant being a juvenile should have be dealt with under the Juvenile Act.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Book Antiqua";mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"">b.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The High Court had no jurisdiction to sentence appellant.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Book Antiqua";mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"">c.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">There was no case against the appellant. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Book Antiqua";mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"">d.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The sentence is excessive.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The first ground of the appeal is that the appellant being an juvenile should have been treated under the Juvenile Act. It is premised on the argument by appellant that he was aged 18 years at the time of his conviction and sentence. To support this argument, the appellant produced