Barber jailed for defiling mentally retarded girl
A 27-year- old barber was yesterday sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment by the Accra Circuit Court for defiling a 13-year-old mentally retarded and epileptic girl at Mayera, near Amasaman in the Ga West Municipality.
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David Azeole pleaded not guilty to the charge of having carnal knowledge of a female idiot.
In his defence, he argued that he went to the mentally retarded girl’s house to drink water and on his way out, the girl’s mother met him and called for his arrest.
The court, presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku, however, held that the evidence presented by the prosecution proved beyond all reasonable doubt that Azeole defiled the teenager.
“He indeed committed the offence and at the time he knew that the victim was an imbecile,” the presiding judge said.
The mother of the victim is said to have discovered Azeole lying on top of her daughter and having sexual intercourse with her.
Acquittal
A second person, Alexander Amesenya, who was accused of aiding and abetting Adeole in committing the crime was, however, acquitted and discharged by the court.
Amesenya was accused of keeping watch while Azeole was committing the offence.
The presiding judge, in acquitting Amesenya, said there was no evidence that he aided Azeole in committing the offence.
“Apart from sitting on a stone outside the house, where the incident took place, there is no evidence that he aided Azeole,” the presiding judge said.
“Forgive me”
After he was convicted, Azeole insisted that he was not guilty but he pleaded for forgiveness and mercy.
“I did not do it, but they said I did, so I am sorry,” he said.
“If you did not do it, why are you pleading? Based on the evidence, I have no option but to give you the maximum sentence,’’ the presiding judge held.
Victim’s status
One memorable aspect of the trial was the inability of the victim to testify throughout the course of the trial.
When she was called upon to testify, she was able to pronounce only her name and nothing else.
Facts
The facts of the case, as presented by the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Mrs Judith B. Asante, were that the incident happened on February 27, 2016.
She said on the said date the victim’s mother went out leaving her daughter at home, but on her return home, she saw Amesenya sitting on a stone opposite her house.
“On seeing her, Amesenya took to his heels. When she got home and opened the door, she saw Azeole having sexual intercourse with her daughter,” the prosecutor said.
The mother, the prosecutor said, shouted and Azeole was arrested.
“Amesenya was also arrested the next day,” she added.