By: Audrey Raymonda John
Husband and wife pastor Chris Dave Kassegbama and Hannah Chris Kassegbama were on Wednesday 11th January, 2023 sentenced to prison or pay a fine of NLe11,000 after they were found guilty of domestic violence against former spouse of the wife.
Both convicts were standing trial before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.1 for the offence of domestic violence and assault contrary to law.
According to the particulars of offence, on Tuesday 11th January, 2022 at Naiahcom Junior Secondary School Baoma Goderich, both convict physically and psychologically abused Sahid A. Sesay in a manner thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm with whom he is in domestic relationship with the second convict.
While count two added that that the first convict assaulted Sahid Sesay in a manner thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
In his ruling, Magistrate Ngegba said the Prosecution has to prove their case beyond all reasonable doubt in order to warrant the guilt of the accused.
He said the Prosecution led 3 witnesses, while the Defense opened their case and four witnesses were called respectively.
He said the evidence adduced before the Court by the Prosecution was sufficient, adding that the prosecution met the thresholds of the elements of the offence charged.
In her plea mitigation, Defence Counsel I.T. Bundu Esq. pleaded with the Bench to temper justice with mercy, noting that her Clients are first time offender.
Having heard her plea mitigation, Magistrate Ngegba sentenced the first convict Mr. Kassegbama to serve a jail term of one year imprisonment on count 1 and 2 or pay the sum NLe3,500 on each count, while for the second convict to serve a jail term of 1 year imprisonment or pay a fine of LeNLe4000 (four thousand new Leones).
Magistrate Ngegba ordered that Sahid Sesay, daughter of the Complainant to be released by the Convicts, while the Prosecution should furnish the court with the social standard of Complainant Sahid Sesay.