An American woman sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor by an Accra Circuit Court for car snatching expressed remorse for her actions, saying she felt bad about hurting their victim.

In tears and apologizing to the victim, Skylah Leeann Marine Travis said, "I did not mean to do that; I want to ask for forgiveness."

Travis, who is unemployed, was sentenced alongside her Liberian fiancé, Daniel Ireland. Her sentence was initially deferred to Monday, January 10, 2025, pending a pregnancy test. However, the test came back negative, and she is to begin her jail term as well.

While pleading for leniency, Travis explained that she and her fiancé were not in the right frame of mind at the time of the offense. She said they had come to Ghana for rehabilitation as they were struggling with drug addiction.

She admitted to conspiring with her fiancé to rob the victim, an online ride-hailing driver, of his vehicle but denied stabbing him.

In addition to their sentences, the court ordered both convicts to pay compensation of GHC 6,000.00 each to the victim by January 31, 2025.

Ireland, her accomplice, was on January 15, 2025, sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor after pleading guilty to conspiracy, robbery, and causing harm (stabbing the victim).

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Oppong, prosecuting, informed the court, presided over by Susanna Eduful, that the complainant (name withheld) was a Bolt driver and resident of Ayi Mensah, Accra. Ireland, a graphic designer, and Travis, unemployed, lived together at Teshie Malik.

On January 7, 2025, at about 12:30 a.m., the convicts requested the services of the complainant to pick them up from the Labadi Church of Pentecost headquarters to Teshie, which the complainant obliged.

Upon arrival at their residence in Teshie Malik, the convicts asked the complainant to wait while they retrieved their belongings for transport to Madina. While the complainant waited in the vehicle—a Toyota Corolla S with registration number WT 364-24—Ireland suddenly pulled a knife and stabbed the complainant in the neck, demanding the vehicle.

A struggle ensued, during which the complainant sustained severe injuries to his neck, both hands, left arm, and head, resulting in heavy bleeding. Despite his injuries, the convicts succeeded in robbing him of his vehicle, valued at GHC 160,000.00, an iPhone 13 Pro Max worth GHC 8,000.00, a Samsung S10 worth GHC 2,950.00, and GHC 1,000.00 in cash.

The complainant, who lost consciousness, was rescued by a passerby and taken to the Teshie Glory Land Clinic. He was later transferred to the University of Ghana Medical Centre, where he was admitted. He was discharged the next day, and the matter was reported to the police.

During the investigation, police visited the scene and found that the convicts had vacated their rented room, taking most of their belongings to an unknown location. However, their passports were retrieved, and a message was left with their landlady instructing them to report to the police station.

On January 9, 2025, the convicts were arrested, leading to the recovery of the stolen vehicle at the Kasoa Odeneho Hotel, where they had lodged after the crime.

In their respective caution statements, both admitted to the offenses. After investigations, they were charged and brought before the court.

In passing sentence, the court considered the ages of the convicts, their status as first-time offenders, and their claim that they were under the influence of drugs at the time of the crime, which they had come to Ghana to address.

The judge advised them to focus on rehabilitation after serving their sentences to rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to society.

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