"I was punishing my son, meant no harm"-Driver

Accra Aug. 1, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday remanded into prison custody a 50-year-old driver for negligently causing harm to his son aged 14 now deceased. Samuel Quarshie hit his son's head with a stone after beating him for stealing his wife's money. The victim sustained injury and was rushed to a clinic for treatment but died later. Quarshie pleaded guilty with explanation. He told the court that he never had the intent of harming his son thereby resulting in his death, adding he was only punishing him for wrongdoing.

Quarshie who has been in custody for three years and a month therefore pleaded with the court to deal leniently with him. The court however, deferred his sentence to August 15. The fact as presented by Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Eric Amoako said the complainant was a fisherman and elder brother to the deceased Kpakpo Quarshie. Accused, the deceased and complainant all lived in same house at Teshie.

The prosecution said in May 2004, the accused caught the

deceased stealing his mother's money so he (accused) beat him

severely and hit the head with a stone. The deceased sustained injuries so he was rushed to a

private clinic by some relatives where he was treated and discharged. However on June 4, 2004, the deceased fell ill again and

was sent to the same clinic where the doctor referred him to the

Korle Bu teaching Hospital for ex-ray. Relatives rather sent him home on June 6, 2004, where

Kpakpo died. A report was made to the Police and Quarshie was arrested. Prosecution said Quarshie was put before a magistrate

court for murder and the docket forwarded to the Attorney General

Department which said Quarshie should be charged for negligently

causing harm.