This is a criminal appeal that was filed pursuant to leave of this Court upon an application that was considered and granted on 8 June 2021 for an extension of time to file the appeal. The appeal is against the judgment of the Circuit Court, Kpando dated 29 October 2015. The trial court sentenced the appellant to twelve (12) years imprisonment IHL upon conviction based on the appellant’s guilty plea to the offence of defilement contrary to s.101, Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). That is, the accused pleaded guilty simpliciter to the offence on his first appearance.
The appeal is solely against the sentence, in fact, just for mitigation of the 12-year sentence, which the appellant describes as harsh. The grounds of the appeal are two-fold: that the appellant pleaded guilty simpliciter to the charge at his first appearance in court and thus did not waste the time and resources of the court; and that, besides, he is a first-time offender. The appellant seems to contend and to suggest…