Six people open defence on death threat charges
His plea was not taken and has been remanded in prison custody to reappear at a later date.
The tribunal presided over by Mr.
Justice D. K. Richardson heard that on June 17, the victim was going to a shop
near her home around 22:00 hours to buy dry cell batteries when she met the
accused, who is a cousin to her husband.
The accused requested to know
where she was going and when she told him, Karikari offered to give her some
and asked her to accompany him to his room.
The prosecution contended that
Since Karkari was related to her husband, the victim did not suspect anything.
However, when they to his room, the accused suddenly locked the door and pushed
her onto his bed.
The victim was said to have
struggled and shouted for help but the accused over powered her and tore up her
underwear and sexually assaulted her.
The victim made an immediate
report to the police and Karikari was arrested, when he was sent to the
hospital for an HIV test, he tested positive.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 June 2000
One of six persons charged with offensive conduct and threat of death on Thursday told a circuit tribunal that he was compelled to buy and license a gun for protection because the complainant in the case had been harassing them.
Reuben Sowah Odonkor, a teacher, who was opening his defence, said the complainant, Theodore Adjei Osae often came with thugs to brutalise them. He added that reports to the police failed to end the harassment.
The other accused persons are Samuel Senaky and Laryea Anang, both drivers, Adjei Annan, a mason, Laryea Odonkor, a seaman and Tetteh Adjah Amu, a labourer.
Odonkor said that although he and the five other accused persons often fired shots in the air at night as well as at dawn, they were meant to scare off would be attackers and not the complainant in particular.
Prosecuting Superintendent of Police Elizabeth Alandu said Odonkor, who is litigating over lands at Otinshie, East Legon, with the complainant, on May 18 threatened one Ebenezer Ashitey with death while holding a gun. She said Odonkor told Ashitey that he was lucky that the gun was not loaded.
In May 1998 Odonkor shot into the air and threatened to kill anyone who trespassed on the said land.
The accused persons are each on a two million-cedi bail with one surety to be justified. They have been asked to keep the peace until the determination of the case. They are to reappear before the tribunal on July 13.
GRi../