Snake scatters court at Assin Fosu

The Assin Fosu Court received an unwelcome witness last Tuesday when a huge snake appeared in the beams and the ceiling of the courtroom.

The snake was seen after the presiding judge, Mr Joseph Blay, had led the court in a short prayer prior to the day's sitting.

As soon as Mr Blay sat down to begin calling cases, the snake, measuring about six feet and as big as the forearm of a an average man, appeared right behind his head.

It appeared menacingly, wagging its tongue and prepared to bite the judge, who was completely oblivious of the looming danger behind him.

People in the courtroom who saw the dreadful situation started yelling and shouting "Jesus Christ", "God", “Awurade", Allah", with the judge completely flabbergasted.

Those who could not stand the perilous spectacle ran for their dear life and in the ensuing pandemonium, the snake was distracted momentarily, causing it to shift its attention away from the judge.

The brave ones who remained in the courtroom mustered courage and started pelting the serpent with whatever they could lay hands on - shoes, stones and sticks - and eventually succeeded in killing it.

Mr. Kwadwo Manu, a farmer who happened to be in the courtroom to listen to proceedings, told the judge that the snake was a very poisonous one whose bite could be lethal.

The Assin Fosu Court is one of the most unsuitable premises to pass as a court. Apart from the unbearable heat from the sun, the court cannot sit anytime it rains due to its leaky roof.

Speaking to The Mirror about the incident later, Mr Blay said it was manifestly important now for the Judicial Service, the government, the Assin North Municipal Assembly and the people of the urea to pool resources to find a suitable premises for the court to dispense justice to the people.