I Am Mad - Rapist Tell Court

A 31-year-old sprayer who thought feigning madness in court could save him from going to jail had the shock of his life when an Accra circuit court sentenced him to 10 years' hard labour for defiling an 11-year-old girl.

When asked by the judge whether he had anything to tell the court before his sentence, Frank Henidza, the convict, remained silent for a while to prove to the court that he was actually a mad person, before finally replying, ? I am a mad person?.

And when the judge asked how he became aware of his sickness, Frank said, ?Formerly I was a mad person but now I am healed.?The court, however, ignored his plea and sentenced him but, not expecting that, Frank declared ?this is too much?.

The facts of the case were that about three weeks ago, Frank, who lived in the same area in Accra with the victim, defiled her after she had attended to nature?s call and was returning home in the night.

Without any word, he held the girl into an abandoned vehicle under a shed and forcibly had sex with her. Afterwards, Frank warned her not to tell anybody or he would kill her.But the girl went ahead to report the matter to her mother, who also reported it to the police for the arrest of Frank.

Upon his arrest, Frank admitted the offence and explained that the girl became his girlfriend after telling him that she was 14 years.