Court sentences Liberian to 10 years, defers American girlfriend’s sentence pending pregnancy test

The Accra Circuit Court Three has sentenced 25-year-old Liberian national Daniel Ireland to 10 years in prison with hard labour for robbing a Bolt driver off his vehicle.  

Ireland and his 18-year-old American lover, Skylah Leeann Marine Travis, admitted to conspiring to rob the driver and were convicted based on their own pleas.  

However, the sentence for Travis was deferred pending the results of a pregnancy test.  She will return to court on January 20, 2025, for sentencing.  

In addition to the robbery charge, Ireland was also found guilty of causing harm, to which he pleaded guilty.  

The Court further ordered both Ireland and Travis to pay GHC6,000.00 each to the victim as compensation by January 31, 2025.  

Additionally, the stolen vehicle was ordered to be returned to the complainant.  

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Oppong, prosecuting, informed the Court, presided over by Mrs. Susanna Eduful, that the complainant (name withheld) is a Bolt driver and resident of Ayi Mensah, Accra, while Ireland is a graphic designer and Travis is unemployed.   

The convicts are engaged to each other and live at Teshie Malik.  

On January 7, 2025, at approximately 1230 hours, Ireland and Travis requested the complainant’s services to transport them from the Labadi Church of Pentecost headquarters to Teshie, a request the complainant accepted.   

The Court was informed that the complainant, driving a Toyota Corolla S with registration number WT 364-24, arrived at the convicts’ residence in Malik, a suburb of Teshie.  

ASP Oppong stated that Ireland and Travis asked the complainant to wait while they loaded their belongings into the vehicle to go to Madina.   

While the complainant was in the vehicle waiting, Ireland suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the neck to force him to surrender the vehicle.   

The complainant struggled with Ireland and sustained severe injuries to his neck, both hands, left arm, and head, resulting in significant bleeding, the court was informed.  

The prosecution stated that the convicts successfully stole the complainant’s vehicle valued at GH¢160,000.00, an iPhone 13 Pro Max valued at GH¢8,000.00, a Samsung S10 valued at GH¢2,950.00, and cash amounting to GH¢1,000.00.  

The complainant, who lost consciousness, was assisted by a passerby who took him to Teshie Glory Land Clinic before being transferred to the University of Ghana Medical Center for admission, ASP Oppong informed the court.  

The following day, the complainant was discharged, and the incident was reported to the police.   

During the investigation, the police visited the scene and found that Ireland and Travis had left most of their belongings in the rented room, for an unknown destination.   

The police also retrieved Ireland and Travis’ passports and left a message with their landlady for them to report to the police station, the prosecution said.  

ASP Oppong stated that on January 9, 2025, the pair were arrested, leading to the recovery of the stolen vehicle at the Kasoa Odeneho Hotel, where they had lodged after the incident.  

In their respective caution statements, both Ireland and Travis admitted to the offenses.  

 Following the investigation, they were formally charged and brought before the Court.  

In sentencing, the Court considered the ages of the convicts, their status as first-time offenders, and their claim that they were not in their right frame of mind due to being under the influence of drugs, which had led them to come to Ghana for rehabilitation.  

The judge advised that after serving their prison sentences, the convicts should focus on rehabilitation to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to the development of their country.