The family of Lily Donkor, a student of Achimota School who lost her life during a visit to a residence of a colleague have served notice they will appeal the High Court decision setting the convict free.
The then 17-year-old accused person was alleged to have brought out his father’s gun under a bed with an intention of shooting into the air but ended up killing his friend.
He was subsequently convicted on the charge of man slaughter by a juvenile court and handed a 3-year jail term.
But, on February 19, An Accra High court ordered the release of the Achimota Senior High School student who shot and killed his colleague 'girlfriend'.
According to Justice Kofi Dorgu of the High Court, who presided over the case, the trial of the accused exceeded the six month period as stated in the Juvenile Act. He added that the Juvenile court delivered a verdict without waiting for a social enquiry report.
Prime News can report that the family of the deceased have asked the state prosecutors to appeal the High Court decision.
The Aunt of the deceased, Peggy Donkor stated that Gerald Anaman, the accused person’s lawyers appealed the Juvenile court decision, so they will also appeal that of the High court to make sure the accused person is made to serve a jail term.
“They appealed and we also have the right to appeal, so will we also appeal, the truth is that is Mr and Mrs Anaman set out to do, of course, Lilly is dead, we’re finding it difficult and we are going to live with it for the rest of our lives and they will also live with it for the rest of their lives. Gerald is a murderer and they can do whatever but I assure you, he will not live forever, we will also appeal.â€
Background
The facts as narrated in court were that on January 4 last year at about 2 pm the deceased Lily who lived at Cantonments visited the convict at Community eight in Tema.
 While there, the prosecution said the convict went to his father’s room and picked up his father’s single barrel gun and shot the victim in the abdomen.
The convict told the police that he intended shooting into the air however the gravity of the gun changed course and hit the deceased.
According to the prosecution, a neighbour heard the gunshot and went to the scene only to see the victim lying in a pool of blood.
The victim was taken to the Port Clinic in Tema. However, due to the condition of the victim, she was transferred to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra where she died on admission.
primenewsghana.com/Ghana News