Septuagenarian fined for assaulting 60-year-old niece

Mamponteng (Ash), April 13, GNA - There was drama at the Mamponteng magistrate court on Wednesday when a septuagenarian who was standing trial for assault told of how he mercilessly beat up his 60-year-old niece "in order to instill the fear of God into her".

"Your worship, she constantly insulted me with the aim of bringing my reputation into disrepute and I felt I had to discipline her once and for all", Kofi Hackman, the accused told the court, which drew prolonged laughter from the court.

Hackman, who pleaded guilty to assault, was fined 500,000 cedis or in default serve three months imprisonment.

Prosecuting, Police Sergeant Alex Aidoo-Mends told the court that the accused who was seeking greener pastures outside the country returned home in the early part of this year and took to farming at Keina near Mamponteng in the Kwabre district.

He said since his arrival, his niece, Nana Afua Kyerewaah constantly picked up quarrels with him and allegedly accused him of being an irresponsible old man.

This, he said, created a deep enmity between the two as they constantly exchanged words.

Sergeant Aidoo-Mends said Hackman who could no longer take the insults rained on him by the complainant pounced on her on Saturday, April 8 and gave her hefty punches all over her body till she became weak. He said on-lookers separated them whilst the complainant lodged a complaint with the police who arrested Hackman and charged him with the offence.