Accra Juvenile Court Sentences 15-Year-Old to 12 Months for Murder Conspiracy

Tetteh Belinda
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A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to 12 months in a Senior Correctional Centre for his involvement in the murder of a 10-year-old boy.  The Juvenile Court in Accra handed down the sentence after finding the teenager guilty of conspiring with another teenager to commit the crime, driven by a desire for money rituals ("sakawa").

 


The emotional convict, who pleaded for forgiveness, stated that the killing of his "dear friend" was not intentional and blamed the act on the influence of the devil. He also appealed for forgiveness from the deceased's father.

 

Presiding Judge Bernice Mensimah Ackon considered the Juvenile Justice Act 2003 (Act 653) in her sentencing.  The judge noted that the boy, arrested in April 2021, had already spent three years and two months on remand.  Under the Act, this effectively served his three-year sentence. However, given the severity of the crime and the juvenile's expressed wish to learn a technical vocation (having dropped out of school at Basic 6), the additional 12-month sentence at the Senior Correctional Centre was imposed to allow him to acquire vocational skills.

 

This sentencing follows a previous October verdict where a seven-member jury found both teenagers guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and murder.  The 18-year-old accomplice, Nicholas Kini, received a life sentence in the High Court. The 15-year-old's case was then referred to the Juvenile Court as per Section 18(1) of the Juvenile Justice Act 2003.

 

The Gruesome Details

 

According to the prosecution, the teenagers sought the services of a spiritualist in the Volta Region for money rituals.  The spiritualist allegedly demanded GH¢5,000 and a human sacrifice.  On April 3, 2021, the 15-year-old lured the 10-year-old victim, Ishmael, to an uncompleted building where his accomplice lay in wait.  Ishmael was struck on the neck and head, ultimately succumbing to his injuries.  The accused then attempted to bury the body in a shallow grave within the building.

 

The case highlights the tragic consequences of belief in money rituals and the challenges faced by the juvenile justice system in addressing such heinous crimes committed by minors. The sentence aims not only to punish the offender but also to provide him with opportunities for rehabilitation and vocational training.

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