Try asking the following...
Try asking the following...
January 5, 2023
DISTRICT COURT
GHANA
CORAM
JUDGMENT
The accused person herein was charged with the offence of Causing Harm; contrary to Section
69 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). Accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Summary of the facts of this case as presented by prosecution are that, the complainant is a
hairdresser while accused is a farmer. Complainant whose house is adjacent to that of the
accused person, lives with the relatives at Salifukrom, near Nkwanta.
On 17th April, 2021 at about 12:00pm complainant was in her room with her son and overheard
the mother and the younger sister shouting for help. Complainant came out and met the accused
with a machete, about to attack the sick mother in her house.
Complainant in the process to prevent the accused from using the machete on the mother,
caused the accused become to offended and slashed the waist of the complainant with the
machete and she fell down instantly. Accused went into hiding after the crime and was later
arrested by the youth of the town and handed over to the Police.
In his investigation caution statement, accused admitted the offence and was duly charged and
arraigned before this honourable court.
CASE FOR PROSECUTION
Prosecution’s case is that, complainant was in her room and heard some shouts on the
compound of their house. When she came out of her room, she saw the accused herein, wielding
a machete in an attempt to attack the mother. The complainant who was by then carrying an
early stage of a pregnancy went to the aid of the mother. Accused became offended just because
the complainant came to save the mother. Accused then slashed the pregnant woman
(complainant) with the cutlass he was wielding. Complainant, per the prosecution’s case fell
instantly on the ground and was rushed to a health facility.
Prosecution called three witnesses in all, including the Police investigator. The other prosecution
witnesses, who were the mother of the complainant, corroborated the evidence of complainant
to the effect that, complainant did not in any way provoke the accused to warrant the latter’s
action and conduct.
CASE FOR ACCUSED (ACCUSED’S DEFENCE)
Accused in is defence admitted that he used the Machete on the complainant but he said he just
slapped the complainant with the cutlass and that, he did not slash her. Accused person
continued that the complainant and the mother used to insult him as a result of a long standing
land dispute between them and on the day of the incident, he
AI Generated Summary
Samuel Kokroko, a farmer in Salifukrom near Nkwanta, was charged with causing harm under Section 69 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) after an incident on 17 April 2021. The complainant, a hairdresser living adjacent to Kokroko’s house, heard her mother and younger sister crying for help and encountered Kokroko wielding a machete, about to attack her sick mother. When she intervened, Kokroko slashed her waist, causing her to fall; he fled but was arrested by local youth and handed to police. In his caution statement he admitted striking her, but at trial claimed he used the blunt side and had been provoked by insults and stick blows from a long‑standing land dispute. The court found his accounts inconsistent, credited corroborated prosecution evidence that the complainant did not provoke him, explained that provocation under Section 53 reduces punishment but does not absolve liability, and held the prosecution proved the offence beyond reasonable doubt. As a first offender who paid GHȼ500 compensation, Kokroko received a fine of 100 penalty units (or six months in default) and a 12‑month good‑behaviour bond, breachable by at least six months’ custody.