28-year-old nurse gets six years for burning husband

By Murtala Issah

A twenty-eight-year-old nurse, Zainab Ali, has been sentenced to six years in prison with hard labour after she was found guilty of causing harm contrary to Section 69 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

The convict, on January 12, 2024, poured hot water on her husband, Ryan Yussif, following a misunderstanding over the use of the man’s car.

According to the Prosecution, Zainab and Ryan have been married for four years and have two children aged three years and 9 months. On January 12th, 2024, the couple had a tussle over who should use the husband’s saloon car.

The victim, who was on his way to work, noticed that his car key, which he had placed in one of his pockets, was missing. Upon searching the convict’s handbag, he found the keys and kept it in his pocket. The convict, realising the victim had taken the key from her handbag, went to confront him.

The confrontation turned into a tussle with the victim, during which the convict held the genitals of the victim. The victim, in return, slapped the convict. The prosecution added that the convict went out of the bedroom, entered the kitchen, boiled water in a source pan, returned to the bedroom, and fired it on the victim, who was sitting on the bed, causing twenty-five percent of his body’s surface area.

The victim called his uncle, Chief Superintendent Yussif Mahamud, who came to convey him to KABSAD Hospital for treatment.

The convict, thereafter, reported the case to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), where she made a formal complaint of assault against her husband and was subsequently issued with a medical report. Two days after the incident, the victim’s condition worsened, and he was rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where he was admitted for further treatment.

The police were informed of the victim’s condition, and a medical form was issued to the victim for endorsement. The medical report revealed that the victim suffered burns of carrying depth, superficial, partial thickness, and deep partial thickness over parts of his neck, chest, abdomen, left forearm, and left and right thighs.

The convict was subsequently arrested and admitted to pouring hot water on the victim. She was subsequently charged with the offense of causing harm, contrary to Section 69 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29), and arraigned before the Tamale High Court for trial.

The judge, Justice Eric Ankomah, after nearly three months of trial and five witnesses testifying against the convict, found Zainab Ali guilty. She was subsequently sentenced to six years in prison with hard labour.

The Spokesperson of the victim, Nur-Rahman Iddrisu, welcomed the judgement,saying, “we are happy justice has been served.”

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