"15. It is now well settled that the power of the High Court in an appeal from acquittal is no different from its power in an appeal from conviction. [t can review and consider the entire evidence and come to its own conclusions by either accepting the evidence rejected by the trial court or rejecting the evidence accepted by the trial court. However, if the High Court decided to depart from the conclusions reached by the trial court, it should pay due attentlon to the grounds on which acquittal was based and state the reasons as to why it linds the conclusions leading to the acquittal, unacceptable. It should also bear in mind that (i) the presumption of innocence in favour of the accused is fortified by the hndings of the trial court;: (ii) the accused is entitled to benefrt of arly doubt; and (iii) the trial court had the advantage of examining the demeanour of the witnesses. The cnrx of the matter, however, is whether the High Court is able to give clear reasons to dispel the doubt raised, and reject the reasons given by the trial court."
