{"id":138636,"date":"2015-07-28T19:42:40","date_gmt":"2015-07-28T19:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=138636"},"modified":"2015-07-29T06:48:02","modified_gmt":"2015-07-29T06:48:02","slug":"gunmans-trial-was-a-bit-flawed-ndebugri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=138636","title":{"rendered":"Gunman’s trial was ‘a bit flawed’ – Ndebugri"},"content":{"rendered":"

The trial and the imprisonment of the gunman who claims he went to the President\u2019s church last Sunday to assassinate him has been described as flawed.<\/p>\n

This is according to private legal practitioner, John Ndebugri.<\/p>\n

Explaining his stance on the matter, lawyer Ndebugri said the use of pen to make changes on the charge sheet was \u201cinappropriate\u201d coupled with the lack of proper investigation into the matter before the ruling was given.<\/p>\n

[contextly_sidebar id=”HlrrIIlbtQi8CiHnvuRRD28eQlcIlPGN”]\u201cThere is an insertion with pen with no initials which is inappropriate,\u201d he complained, adding that “it was neatly cancelled with pen…and that is already a flaw. He ought to have looked at that and refuse to deal with the matter.”<\/p>\n

\u201cThe process that took place today is a bit flawed I dare say\u2026there seems to be more to it than it meets the eye and I would have recommended that more serious investigations ought to have been done before it was determined,\u201d he said on Eyewitness News.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Tuesday, a 36-old-man called Charles Antwi was \u00a0sentenced to 10 years<\/a>\u00a0in prison\u00a0<\/strong> <\/span>by an An Accra Circuit Court 48 hours after his arrest.<\/p>\n

He confessed in open court<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>that he indeed wanted to kill the President last Sunday.<\/p>\n

Antwi was arrested after he was spotted with a gun<\/a><\/strong><\/span> at the Ringway Assemblies of God Church; the place of worship for the President and his family.<\/p>\n

The quick sentencing of Antwi has however given rise to a public debate over his state of mind and the judge’s ruling.<\/p>\n

Some are of the view that since the suspect had no legal representation, the judge\u2019s sentencing was questionable.<\/p>\n

Some also argue that the outright confession of Antwi points to the fact that he is psychologically unstable and the Judge should have referred him to a psychiatric hospital for assessment before sentencing him.<\/p>\n

Others also say there was no need for a long trial since the suspect pleaded guilty and confessed to the crime.<\/p>\n

Sharing his thoughts on the matter on Eyewitness News<\/strong>, lawyer Ndebugri said probably, because the court wanted to fast track\u00a0proceedings, it amended the charge.<\/p>\n

The suspect was charged with possession of firearms without lawful excuse contrary to Section 11 of NRCD 9 (1972) but according to Ndebugri, the offense under Section 192 (1) is a first degree felony that cannot be trialed by a Circuit court but by a High Court or on indictment by the High Court.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou cannot prosecute under Section 192 unless you have the written consent of the Attorney General\u2026 but the other thing is that Section 192 was appropriate because it was such a serious offence\u2026 so I think that possibly, that is the reason why they did it [amended the charge].<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Click on audio attachment below to listen to Lawyer Ndebugri<\/strong><\/p>\n