RAYMOND QUAYSON @KWABENA OKRAH vs. THE REPUBLIC [2020]DLCA9853

Date	2020-10-21
Suit No.
Citation No.	[2020]DLCA9853

JUSTICE IRENE CHARITY LARBI J.A (PRESIDING)

JUSTICE GEORGINA MENSAH-DATSA J.A

JUSTICE YAW DARKO ASARE J.A

F. F. BAIDOO ESQ. FOR THE APPELLANT

PATIENCE A. KLINOGO CHIEF STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE REPUBLIC/RESPONDENT

[2020]DLCA9853
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><a name="_Hlk35510717">RAYMOND QUAYSON @KWABENA OKRAH</a> <o:p></o:p>(APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE
REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, CAPE COAST]<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">

SUIT NO:
H2/10/2020&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DATE: 21ST OCTOBER, 2020<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>F. F. BAIDOO ESQ. FOR
THE APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">

PATIENCE A. KLINOGO,
CHIEF STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE REPUBLIC/RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>JUSTICE IRENE CHARITY
LARBI J.A (PRESIDING), JUSTICE GEORGINA MENSAH-DATSA J.A, JUSTICE YAW DARKO
ASARE J.A <o:p></o:p><div style="border-top-width: 1.5pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-left: none; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-right: none; padding: 1pt 0in;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:
150%;tab-stops:147.0pt;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">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>IRENE
CHARITY LARBI (MRS.) J.A<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
This
is an appeal from the judgment of the High Court, Sekondi, delivered on 19th
April, 2012.<o:p></o:p>The facts of the case from the record
of proceedings Record of Appeal (ROA) are as follows:<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The
deceased was Matthew Yeridonor, a farmer/trader resident at Bekoase near Dwira
Bibiani whilst the Accused/Appellant then a farmer was resident at Dwira Wiawso
near Dwira Bibiani.<o:p></o:p>On 8th January, 2010, the
deceased and his colleagues went to the market at Kutukrom and after trading,
they all boarded a Kia truck for their return journey. While on board the
truck, a misunderstanding ensued between Sabina Quayson, a sister of the
accused and another passenger, Jacob Dery who was one of the colleagues of the
deceased. As a result a scuffle ensued between the two during which Sabina hit
Jacob with a pair of slippers and Jacob attempted to retaliate but was
restrained. Upon arrival at Dwira Bibiani, Sabina ran to report to one Gaddafi
about what had transpired between them. Gaddafi invited Dery and when Dery approached
Gaddafi, he was attacked by a group of young men. The colleagues of Dery
including the deceased went to the aid of Dery. The accused picked up a fufu pounding
pestle and hit the deceased on the head. The deceased fell unconscious and the
accused fled from the scene whilst the victim now deceased was rushed to the
hospital where he died on arrival. A report was made to the Police and after
investigations the accused was charged with murder and put before the High
Court for trial with a judge and jury.<o:p></o:p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
In the
course of the trial, the accused changed his plea from not guilty of murder to
guilty of manslaughter. He was accordingly convicted on his own plea and
sentenced to a term of 20 years IHL on 19th April, 2012.<o:p></o:p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Aggrieved
by the said conviction and sentence, the appellant pursuant to leave granted
him on 12th February, 2020, filed an appeal against the said
conviction and sentence on two (2) main grounds as follows:<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
That
the sentence of 20 years imprisonment is rather excessive in the circumstance.<o:p></o:p></main>