WONDER NWANI vs. THE REPUBLIC [2021]DLCA10799

Date	2021-07-22
Suit No.	SUIT NO: H2/22/2021
Citation No.	[2021]DLCA10799

SOWAH J.A. (PRESIDING)

OPPONG J.A.

MENSAH-HOMIAH J.A.

NO COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT

DICKSON DONKOR ESQ. (ASA) FOR RESPONDENT

[2021]DLCA10799
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >WONDER NWANI<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>[COURT
OF APPEAL, KOFORIDUA]<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: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>NO COUNSEL
FOR 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: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">DICKSON
DONKOR ESQ. (ASA) FOR RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>SOWAH J.A. (PRESIDING), OPPONG J.A.,
MENSAH-HOMIAH 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 0cm;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;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:0cm;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;SOWAH,
(J.A):&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>This
is a second appeal from the judgment of the Circuit Court which convicted the
appellant on 18th December 2017 on two counts with defilement of an
11 year old girl contrary to section 101 of the Criminal and other Offences Act
1960, Act 29. The appellant pled guilty to the charges; was convicted on his
own plea and sentenced to 12 years IHL.<o:p></o:p>The
appellants appeal for mitigation of sentence to the High Court was not
successful. In the judgment on appeal dated 18th February 2020, the
Court did not consider that the sentence of 12 years IHL was manifestly harsh
considering the aggravating factors and dismissed the appeal.<o:p></o:p>In
the appeal before us, the appellant is praying that we reduce his sentence to
the minimum in exercise of our discretion. His grounds of appeal are:<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the sentence imposed on the
appellant is harsh and excessive considering the conditions of detention within
the prison confines. Hence his plea for reduction of his sentence<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the appellant has deeply regretted
his actions and it was out of profound remorse and a contrite heart that he
pleaded guilty simpliciter in Court, without wasting the Honourable Courts'
time. Hence his plea for mitigation of sentence.<o:p></o:p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the appellant being a first time
offender has really learnt his lessons, especially being physically challenged
under the harsh and severe conditions of detention over the period of time he
has so far served in incarceration. Hence his plea for mitigation of his
sentence.<o:p></o:p>Now,
an appeal is said to be by way of re-hearing. This means that after evaluation
of the whole record, an appellate court has the power to either maintain the
conviction and sentence; or set it aside and acquit and discharge or increase
the sentence. See: Dexter Johnson v The
Republic [2011] 2 SCGLR 601 </main>