A driver who allegedly poured acid on his girlfriend has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Accra High Court.
Bright Boso had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing harm.
Also, before the court’s decision, Boso had prayed the court to pardon him to enable him to take care of his children.
“I am pleading with the court to forgive me because, if convicted, there will be nobody to take care of the kids and the victim,” he pleaded.
But the plea fell on deaf ears as he was convicted and subsequently sentenced by the court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo.
After pronouncing the judgement, the court appealed to civil society organisations and other philanthropists to help fund the surgery cost of the victim.
The victim, who is on the verge of losing her sight, needs GHC60K for surgery.
Facts
The facts of the case were presented to the court by Selasie Kuwornu, a Senior State Attorney.
The victim, Grace Amezando, is a 24-year-old woman who used to be in a romantic relationship with the accused, Bright Boso, a commercial driver.
The victim co-habited with the accused in a kiosk on an undeveloped land at Christian Village, Accra.
They have two children.
According to the prosecution, sometime in December 2020, Boso accused the victim of cheating on him with one Gyan who lived in their neighbourhood.
On 11 May 2021, the accused and the victim reportedly had a misunderstanding over the same issue, and the victim left the house.
The victim is said to have joined a bus heading towards Ashongman Estate, but unknown to her, the accused followed.
The accused then alighted immediately after the victim did.
Per the facts, he is said to have verbally abused her in public on the grounds of cheating. He further threatened that she would soon look like an old woman.
“On 13 May 2021, the accused went to work. He returned sometime after midnight, which was about 12:00am. He entered their kiosk, poured an acidic liquid on the victim, who was sleeping at the time and stepped out again.
“A few minutes after he had stepped out, the victim started feeling burning sensations on her skin and pain in her eyes,” the prosecutor narrated.
The victim ran out of the kiosk for help, and she was rushed to the hospital and eventually referred to the Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment.
She suffered an injury to the eye and burns on her face, chest, breasts and two arms.
The accused admitted the offence when he was arrested and narrated how after repair work on the battery of his vehicle, he poured some of the acid taken out of his car battery and stored it in a container.
Based on these facts, the accused Bright Boso was arraigned for trial.