An Accra High Court has sentenced a 60-year-old man, Doe Fiano, to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting his wife in the genitals at their home, an act committed in full view of their four-year-old son.

The woman, believed to be in her late 40s, died from her injuries shortly after the attack.

Prosecutors told the court that the incident, which occurred in their family residence, left the couple’s only child severely traumatized.

The accused was charged with murder before Criminal Court 5, presided over by Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie.

However, he entered a guilty plea to the lesser offence of manslaughter, a move accepted by the court, leading to his conviction on that charge.

During the sentencing phase, his defense counsel made a strong plea for leniency, requesting a five-year sentence.

The defense argued that the convict was a first-time offender, a respected member of society, and the primary breadwinner of the family.

It was also noted that he had already spent close to two years in custody while awaiting trial.

The prosecution, however, held firm in its call for justice, urging the court to impose a 30-year sentence. They emphasized the gruesome nature of the act, the vulnerability of the victim, and the devastating psychological toll on the couple’s young son, who remains deeply traumatized.

In delivering judgment, the presiding judge acknowledged the mitigating factors but stressed that the aggravating circumstances could not be ignored.

The case has once again raised concerns about domestic violence in the country and its long-term impact on children exposed to such traumatic events.