“I shot the accused person”- complainant confirms

Emmanuel Mensah Ashong, a complainant in the case involving four persons, said he shot one of them, when he sensed they were about to rob him.

James Lawer, a driver's mate, Wisdom Glorkpor, steel bender, Solomon Klutse, auto sprayer and Francis Adika, steel bender; were said to have conspired and robbed one Bishop Samuel Owusu of his one Akai and one Samsung flat screen TV, seven mobile phones, one Samsung Galaxy Tablet, one ipad, one travelling bag containing jewelleries, all worth GH?40,000.00, and an amount of GH?1,700.00, $ 3,500 and 500 Rands.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy and robbery.

“My Lord, l heard a bang on my door and when l peep through the window l saw this young guys holding cutlass, hammer standing at the door, so l quickly run for my gun and in an attempt l shot the first accused person,” he added.

Mr Ashong told the court that, after he shot James, they all run away. So he together with his siblings decided to trace the blood stains and it was around the same time that they reported to the police.

He said the police later called him to inform him that they have found a young man, who said he was attacked by armed robbery and has been taken to the hospital.

He said what he used to identify James was that, the part, he alleged the armed robbery attacked him was the same place he shot him at.

The accused person were charged for conspiracy to commit crime, robbery and causing unlawful damage.

On the charge of causing unlawful damage James, Wisdom and Francis again pleaded not guilty but Solomon pleaded guilty.

Solomon was convicted by the Court on his own plea of guilty but sentence was deferred.

The four were all remanded into prison custody to reappear on August 20.

Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), K Bempah told the Court that the complainants in the case are Bishop Samuel Owusu, a Pastor and Emmanuel Mensah Ashong, a businessman both residents of Santeo, near Nmai-Dzorn in the Greater Accra Region.

He said on July 15, the first complainant attended an all-night service at Achimota leaving behind his wife, mother-in-law and children and at dawn on July 16, at about 0140 hours, a gang of armed robbers attacked his house.

The prosecution said according to his mother-in-law, four unmasked men with one holding a gun woke her up at gun point and ordered her to lead them to the complainant’s wife bedroom and she complied.

He told the Court that the accused persons then forcibly opened the door and ordered the complainant’s wife to lie on the floor and stole the above listed items and bolted.

On the same night the accused persons attacked the second complainant, Emmanuel’s house nearby. Emmanuel saw them and shot at them and it hit James, but all managed to escape.

He told the Court that blood stains led to the arrest of James who was hiding in the room of Wisdom and Francis, who were also identified by the witnesses as being part of the robbery gang.

The prosecution said upon interrogation, James mentioned Solomon, Dauda and Rashid as his accomplices.

Police intelligence led to the arrest of Solomon at his hideout in Ashiaman. James and Solomon in their caution statement both admitted the offences.