Crime & Punishment of Friday, 13 July 2018

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Farmer remanded for mistakenly shooting uncle

File photo; The accused is to appear in court on July 20 File photo; The accused is to appear in court on July 20

A 40-year-old farmer who mistook his uncle, Kwame Opoku Douglas, 44, for a game and shot him has been remanded to police custody.

Alex Asante’s plea was not taken when he appeared before the Enchi District Magistrate Court, presided over by Mr. Eric Baah Boateng.

He is to re-appear in Court on Friday, July 20.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ebenezer Anim Ofori said the complainant, Kofi Ofosu, is a member of the Neighbourhood Watch Dog Committee in Domeabra Number two, near Adjuom, a suburb of Enchi.

He said the accused person and the victim lived at Domeabra Number Two but in different cottages.

ASP Anim Ofori said on July 6, this year, at about 1530 hours, the accused person went for his SB shotgun and proceeded to check on his game traps in a secondary forest near Domeabra Number Two.

According to the prosecution, while returning home, Asante decided to pick his spectacles from his uncle’s farm that share the same boundary with his cocoa farm.

He said on reaching the farm, Asante noticed an unusual movement at a portion of the farm and thought it was a game.

He fired, only to realize it was his uncle harvesting yam.

ASP Anim Ofori said with the help of a witness in the case, the victim was sent to Samreboi Hospital for treatment where he was admitted and later referred to the Komfo AnokyeTeaching Hospital to seek further medical attention.

Asante reported himself to the Neighbourhood Watch Dog Committee Chairman, and he escorted him to the Enchi Police Station where he complained.

He said the accused person went home but was arrested to assist the police in their investigation.