Caretaker jailed 10 years after makeshift gate electrocuted a 14-year-old boy

Richmond Laweh, a caretaker who illegally electrified a makeshift gate, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the High Court in Accra after the gate electrocuted a 14-year-old boy, Samuel Darko, at Ampomah near Ashiyie.  

Laweh was found guilty of manslaughter following a unanimous verdict by a seven-member jury at the conclusion of the trial. The incident occurred when the victim touched the electrified gate while attempting to use a pathway blocked by the makeshift structure.  

The court heard that Laweh, also a mason, had illegally connected electricity to an uncompleted building and then ran a copper wire from his house to the makeshift gate, electrifying it. The gate was positioned across a pathway commonly used by residents in the area.  

On June 20, 2019, Darko, accompanied by his friend Ruth Tetteh, attempted to open the gate. Upon touching it, he was electrocuted, collapsing to the ground as his friend watched in horror. Tetteh immediately ran to alert their families, who rushed to the scene only to find the lifeless body of the boy.  

The victim was transported to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. An autopsy confirmed electrocution as the cause of death.  

Trial

Laweh pleaded not guilty to the charge of manslaughter, claiming he had hired a professional electrician to make the illegal connection and denied intentionally electrifying the gate. However, the jury found him culpable after the prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Nana Ama Adinkrah, presented a strong case supported by four witnesses.  

The court, presided over by Justice Marie-Louise Simmons, noted Laweh’s recklessness and the preventable nature of the tragedy.  

The court also criticised the lack of an investigation into the illegal connection itself, stating that this oversight deprived the public of an opportunity to learn about the dangers of illegal electrical work.  

Sentencing

In delivering the sentence, Justice Simmons considered Laweh’s status as a first offender and his cooperation during the trial. However, the court emphasised that the reckless act had resulted in the untimely death of a young boy with his whole life ahead of him.  

Defense counsel pleaded for leniency, arguing that Laweh had no intention of causing harm. Meanwhile, the prosecution urged the court to issue a deterrent sentence, citing the need to prevent similar reckless acts that could lead to loss of life.  

Reactions

The father of the deceased expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, cautioning others to avoid actions that could harm others or lead to fatalities.  

The Director of Public Prosecution underscored the significance of the case, describing it as a reminder of the grave consequences of illegal electrical connections and reckless behaviour.  

The prosecution detailed how Laweh, as the caretaker of a parcel of land at Ampomah, blocked a footpath commonly used by residents with a makeshift wire mesh gate. The gate was electrified with no visible warnings or signs to alert the public to the danger.