THE REPUBLIC V SARFOWAAH (AR/AKP/CC/D3/01/2025) [2024] GHADC 536 (28 October 2024)

BEFORE HER HONOUR NANA ADWOA SERWAA DUA-ADONTENG JUDGE SITTINGATAKROPONGCIRCUIT COURTON 28TH OCTOBER, 2024. SUITNO:AR/AKP/CC/ D3/01/2025 THEREPUBLIC VERSUS ABIGAIL SARFOWAAH FINALJUDGEMENT Accused Person(Selfrepresented) –Present ChiefInspectorRuthGborsonrepresenting Republic - Present Abigail Sarfowaa, aged 29, sales person, for that you on 12th October, 2024 at about 7:00pm at Abuakwa Dadease in the Ashanti Circuit and within the jurisdiction of this court,youcoursed harmtoyour sonElormSarfo aged 8yearswith aKnife. PLEA The court explained to theAccused what the plea of Guilty, Not Guilty and Guilty with explanation were and the effect of each plea.Accused pleaded Guilty Simpliciter on the offence ofcausing harmtoElormSarfo. FACT Complainant JoyceAlimeyais aseamstress. The victim ElormSarfo aged 8is aclass two pupil of Abuakwa R/C. The accused Abigail Sarfowaah works as a sales person at Lawson herbal and a mother to the victim. The complainant is a step mother to the accused person, all reside in the same house at Abuakwa old Dadease. On 12th October 2024, at about 7:00pm, a co-tenant served the accused person Fufu and she placed same in her room. The victim who was hungry went to the room, drank the soup and ate the meat without the accused person’s consent. The accused person after noticing the act called the victim into the room and started beating him with aluminum spatula. In the course, she took aknife and slashed the head ofthe victim three times on different sport inflicting deep wounds in the head. Blood fled the victim profusely and he rum from the room to the complainant. Complainant upon noticing how serious the victim was injured in his head rushed him to the Abuakwa polyclinic where he was admitted for treatment. The complainant reported the matter to the Abuakwa DOVVSU office and police medical forms was issued to her for medical officer’s endorsement. Police visited the victim at the Abuakwa polyclinic and met him on admission receiving treatment. On 13th October, 2024 the accused was arrested and, in her investigation, cautioned statement to police, she admitted the offence but stated that, she used wire to hit the victim but not a knife. Police visited the scene of crime with both parties, and the victim identifies the knife and the Aluminum spatula to the police and same were retrieved and kept as an exhibit. After investigation, she was charged with the offence and broughtbefore this honorable court. CONVICTION ONOWN PLEA(COP) By pleading Guilty Simpliciter to the offence of causing Harm to his biological son Elorm8years, accused personis convicted onher ownplea. PRIOR CONVICTION Accused personis notknownto Law. PLEAOF MITIGATION My lady, I am really sorry for what I have done. I will not repeat it. My son has learnt the habit ofstealing and lying and I gotfrustrated with him and used awire tobeat him. I am currently unemployed and just got a job at Lawson company. He is learning the bad habit from school and I wanted to correct him. My son lives with my mother because I can’t nottakecare ofhim since Idon’t haveajob. SENTENCE By court: accused person is sentenced to sign a bond of good behavior for 5 years. She may visit the child every Saturday and Sunday within the hours of 9:00am -5pm. Temporalcustody totheuncle. H/H.NANA ADWOASERWAADUA-ADONTENG (CIRCUIT COURTJUDGE)