<p class="ql-align-center"><strong><span style="background-color: transparent">JUDGMENT ON CRIMINAL APPEAL</span></strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent">This is a criminal appeal from the judgment of the trial Circuit Court, Kpandu dated 19 January 2016 that sentenced the appellant to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour upon conviction of the offence of defilement of a girl-child aged 11 years contrary to law - s.101 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)</span><em><span style="background-color: transparent">.</span></em><span style="background-color: transparent"> The appellant does not appear dissatisfied with his conviction of the offence by the trial Circuit Court. He is however dissatisfied with the sentence of 10 years the trial court below imposed and that upon leave of the Court dated 12 April 2021 he filed his notice of appeal on 19 April 2021 against the sentence praying for mitigation of the 10 years sentence. His grounds are that: </span></p><p> <span style="background-color: transparent">1. That [he is] a first time offender.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent">2. That the sentence is harsh.</span></p><p> <span style="background-color: transparent">3. That [he has] already served more than 5 years of the 10 years …</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent">The record of appeal comprises a one-page notice of appeal, the judgment of the learned trial judge, the minutes of proceedings at the t…</span></p>