A Circuit Court in Accra on Friday sentenced a mason, Godwin Edem Boamah to 16 years imprisonment for defiling a four-year-old girl at Gbawe, a suburb of Accra.
Boamah, 29, who was charged with defilement pleaded not guilty.
The court presided over by Ms Sedina Agbemava after the trial found Boamah guilty of the offence and convicted him accordingly.
[contextly_sidebar id=”9LtUfLu2xlTKxmmLIA4Eh6Xazo0xfs5h”]The court said it was giving Boamah a deterrent sentence because he was a neighbour of the complainant who was in the person of the victim’s mother.
According to the court, the victim’s mother was on good terms with the convict and lamented over the psychological trauma that the victim had gone through.
Although the victim testified after a year, it noted that she could remember what the convict did to her saying “Bro Edem put his sausage into my weewe.”
According to the court, it was after the victim could not bear the pain that she confided in her mother and informed her about her ordeal.
The court noted that, the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
It noted that for prosecution to prove their case, it ought to establish that the victim had been defiled and that she was defiled by the convict and the victim had identified the convict.
Prosecution called three witnesses to make their case whiles the convict who was presented by counsel did not call any witnesses.
Mr Kofi Bonney prayed the court to deal with his client leniently.
According to counsel, he was a first offender and he had not had a brush with the law.
The facts as presented by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah are that the victim lives with her mother at Gbawe, Zero in Accra. Boamah also resides in the same vicinity.
In November 2012, the complainant and the victim went to a nearby house to wash clothes. At the same time Boamah was in the area doing his masonry work.
ASP Acquah said the victim on seeing Boamah left her mother and went to join the convict while the complainant continued with her washing.
Prosecution said Boamah lured the victim and had sex with her behind the house. Boamah warned the victim not to tell her mother about the act else she will die.
ASP Acquah said victim thereafter felt sick and complained about pain in her vagina anytime her mother bathed her.
On January 14, last year the victim, who could not bear the pain any longer, disclosed her ordeal to her mother.
A report was made to the Police where medical form was issued to the victim and Boamah was arrested.
Source: GNA