Robber calls fiancée as witness

The young man accused of allegedly robbing and raping a level 200 student at the University of Ghana, says he intends to call his fiancée as witness in the trial.

The fiancé of the accused is expected to tell the court where they both were at the time of the incident.

Atta Kofi Kyei aka Fresh Boy, is facing a two-count charge of robbery and admitted rape.

According to the prosecution led by Chief Inspector K. Adu, Fresh Boy, unemployed, on December 14, 2014 at the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) junction, Legon, had carnal knowledge of the victim.

Fresh Boy, prosecution insisted, also on January 1, this year, at Atomic junction near Legon, robbed one Edward Kojo Appiah, a journalist and his wife of their bag containing one Acer laptop, a recorder, two mobile phones, two pen drives, ladies’ blouse valued at GH¢6,000 and GH¢140 cash.

However, Fresh Boy, who was without any lawyer, while opening his defence on Thursday, denied the offence, indicating that he did not know any of the complainants in the case.

He told the court in Twi that at the time of the incident, he was at church and could not have been the same person involved in the robbery.

The trial judge, Francis Obiri, has adjourned hearing of the case to February 18, 2015.

The prosecution at the initial stages of the trial, said on December 14, last year, the student alighted from a vehicle close to the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School at Legon and wanted to cross the street to her hostel.

Chief Inspector K. Adu said that while waiting for the road to clear, Fresh Boy emerged from the nearby bush, attacked and threatened the student with a knife to remain silent, or he would kill her.

He said the accused collected the aforementioned items from the victim and dragged her into the bush from which he had emerged, undressed her, used the dress of the student to blindfold her and forcibly had sex with her.

The police officer stated that the victim, during the sexual intercourse, wanted to have a good look at Fresh Boy and so asked him to remove the dress from her face so that both of them would enjoy the act; and Fresh Boy obliged.

Chief Inspector Adu said this enabled the victim to have a closer look at the accused person, adding that after the sex, Fresh Boy ordered the victim to move out of the bush and never look back.

Prosecution further told the court that just as the complainant was leaving the scene, Fresh Boy ordered her to stop at a point and handed over her properties to her “for the good (sexual) performance and obedience” – after he had used the victim’s mobile phone to dial a certain number.

Chief Inspector Adu said the victim reported the case, indicating that on two different occasions, the accused used an Airtel number to call the victim and reminded her of the exercise he took her through.

The police officer said the accused used a similar tactic to attack Appiah amidst gunshots.

He said after the robbery, the accused person fled into the bush but was identified by the victims.

The prosecutor said during investigations, the accused admitted having committed the offence against the student but denied attacking Appiah.