<<Print>>

The Juaso Circuit Court on Thursday remanded James Okordie Christman, a 20-year-old man, alleged to have defiled and impregnated a 14-year-old, into prison custody.

The accused caused a stir in the Court when he audaciously requested the court to grant him permission to marry the victim.

The accused went further to challenge the age of the victim which prosecution put at 14 and insisted that the girl was 15 and was therefore of age to be married off.

The Court presided over by Mrs. Veronique Manfort, remanded him to reappear on April 4.
He pleaded not guilty to defiling a female under 16 years.

Police Chief Inspector Thomas Obour, prosecuting, said the complainant, Alice Asiamah was the mother of the victim and lived at Patriensah, where the accused also resides.
He said the accused in 2018 became the victim's family friend through this friendship, had been paying frequent visits to the family.

The Prosecution said on one of such visits, the accused took advantage of the absence of the complainant and had sex with the victim in her own room.
He said the initial sexual relationship led to numerous sexual encounters sometimes in the room of the accused, on the blind side of the complainant.

The prosecution said on March 6, this year the accused kept the victim in his room until about 2000 hours the next day.
He said after several futile searches for victim, the complainant, acting upon a tip-off, traced the victim to the room of the accused and cautioned the accused to quit any relationship he was having with the victim after which, she took the victim home.

The Prosecution said two days later, the accused ignored the warning and again took the victim to Juansah a village in the area to visit his brother, who is a taxi driver.
He said the accused spent the night together with the victim in his brother's taxi and had sex with the victim throughout the night.

The Prosecution said the next day, the complainant who thought her daughter had gone missing again, reported the matter to the police.

Mr Obuor said the accused was spotted with the victim at Patriensah the same day at about 1400 hours and this led to his arrest.

He said the victim was issued a medical report form to attend hospital and the report endorsed by a medical officer confirmed that the victim had been defiled and was two months pregnant.

The Prosecution said the accused in his cautioned statement admitted having an affair with the victim and was subsequently charged after investigation.