I can't stop drinking alcohol * Suspect tells court

Saturday, May 23, 2009 (Page 27 - MIRROR)

AN orderly at the Maternity Block of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital stunned the Accra circuit court on Wednesday when he stated that he could not stop consuming alcohol.
Yaw Samuel, who has been accused of forcibly taking away a mango from a 10-year-old boy for his daughter and assaulted the boy in the process on May 9, 2009, admitted that he took in alcohol on the day of the incident.
When the trial judge, Mr D. E. K. Daketsey, queried Samuel whether he could not stop drinking alcohol, the accused said, “My Lord, I will limit it but I cannot stop.”
His answer was greeted with a burst of laughter from the audience who had gathered at the court waiting for their cases to be called.
Samuel pleaded not guilty to two counts of causing harm and assault and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢2,000.
He was ordered to reappear before the court on May 28, 2009.
In his explanation, Samuel told the court that he did not go to work on the day of the incident, adding that he took in little alcohol.
He also admitted taking the mango from the complainant’s grandson, saying that he gave it to his daughter.
He, however, denied assaulting the complainant.
The facts of the case are that on May 9, 2009, one of the complainants, Madam Elizabeth Nsoh, saw the second complainant, her grandson, crying.
She then asked him what the problem was and it was then that her grandson alleged that Samuel had slapped him, taken his mango and given it to his (accused person’s) daughter.
According to the prosecution, the accused hit Madam Nsoh hard on the mouth, resulting in her losing two teeth, while one got weakened in the process.
She then lodged a complaint with the police, who gave her a medical form to receive treatment.
The accused person was subsequently arrested.