Rapist Robber Jailed 25 Years

A 35-year-old labourer was yesterday sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour for robbery by an Accra circuit court.

The convict, Eric Asamoah, was standing trial for robbing a woman of her Nokia XL mobile phone and one travelling bag, both valued at GH¢760.

Eric, unsatisfied with his booty, also raped the three-month pregnant victim, a student of Accra Polytechnic.

At the initial stages of the trial, the prosecution asserted that the convict robbed the victim on August 18 last year at Pokuase A.C.P, a suburb of Accra.

Sentencing

Sentencing Eric, the trial judge, Aboagye Tandoh, said the prosecution was able to prove its case against the accused beyond all reasonable doubts, indicating that the three prosecution witnesses corroborated the evidence of one another.

With reference to the statements of Eric, the judge stated that he (Eric) had told the court that he bought the phone from a certain phone repairer.

In the view of the judge, the identity of Eric was not an issue because the victim, without any difficulty, identified him as the person who robbed her.

He said the complainant, who was scared of the knife Eric used to attack her, gave up everything she had to save her life.

Mr. Tandoh said the court had taken into consideration Eric’s plea for mitigation but it ought to pronounce a deterring sentence.

This, according to the judge, would send a strong signal that society does not tolerate robbery.

He was emphatic that although the complainant was pregnant, there was no evidence to indicate that Eric was responsible for the pregnancy.

Investigator Hailed

The trial judge eulogized D/Cprl Castro K. Ntiamoah, the investigator of the case, for his exceptional and professional handling of the case.

He noted that if he had his way, he would recommend the investigator for promotion, adding that “he has the calling of an investigator par excellence.”

Source: Daily Guide