A man who repeatedly hacked his wife with a cutlass, leaving her permanently disabled and confined to a wheelchair, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court.

Justice Jaiteh handed down the sentence to Yugo Sowe after finding him guilty of intentional harm, attempted murder, assault causing grievous bodily harm, wounding and domestic violence.

The court heard that on 15 November 2023, Sowe launched a brutal attack on his wife in Jalambang, repeatedly slashing her hands and legs with a cutlass.

Prosecutors told the court that the assault left the victim with severe and life-altering injuries, permanently affecting her mobility and rendering her wheelchair-bound.

In delivering judgment, Justice Jaiteh imposed a life sentence for the offence of intentional harm. Sowe was also sentenced to seven years imprisonment for attempted murder, seven years for assault causing grievous bodily harm and three years for domestic violence. The sentences are to run concurrently.

The prosecution argued that Sowe deliberately carried out the attack with the intention of causing serious injury, disability and disfigurement.

The case is one of the most disturbing incidents of domestic violence to come before the courts in recent years, leaving the victim to live with the devastating consequences of the attack for the rest of her life.

By Adama Makasuba