IN GHANA! Nursing mother escapes jail after stabbing tenant

The Judge only fined Grace Morkor Korley because she was a nursing mother and a first time offender.

A nursing mother has been fined Gh¢ 3,600 by an Accra Circuit Court for causing harm. Grace Morkor Korley, a trader, fought and inflicted injuries on her victims during a quarrel over who should scrub a bathroom.

The court, presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh, found Grace guilty after full trial and sentenced her accordingly.

Before the judgement, Mr Tandoh told the court that, considering the fact that Grace was a first time offender and most importantly a nursing mother, her act was wicked and merited punishment to serve as a deterrent for others.

He also said that it was a sad situation for Grace’s four years and two-year-old children to suffer the consequences of their mother’s act.

Failure to pay the fine, Grace would serve three years in prison with hard labour.

Aside that, she is expected to sign a bond to be of good conduct; refrain from any quarrel, fight or criminal activity for two years.

However, if within the two years she engages in any such activity, she will serve additional six months in prison with hard labour.

The facts of the case, according to ASP A. A. Yirenkyi, were that Abigail Schall and Manasseh Marmah Schall are the first and second complainants in the case, respectively, who reside in the same house with Grace at Teshie in Accra.

According to the prosecutor, both parties are not on talking terms.

ASP Yirenkyi said on June 5, 2014, Grace’s mother, the landlady of the Schalls, picked a quarrel with them over the scrubbing of the bathroom and Grace joined in the quarrel, which nearly generated into a fight.

On June 7, 2014, another quarrel erupted between Abigail and Grace and a blow from the former left Grace with a swollen eye.

According to the prosecutor, the families of the two parties joined in the fight until neighbours came to separate them.

ASP Yirenkyi said Grace, not satisfied, followed Abigail to where she had been taken, attacked and inflicted deep cuts on Abigail’s right breast, right arm and back.

The prosecutor said when Manasseh went to rescue his wife, Grace inflicted a deep cut on his right hand.

Source: Daily Graphic