March 3, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
Mariama Sajor Barrie the first defense witness has narrated her story in an alleged murder trial before Justice Don Bosco Alieu at the Freetown High Court on the 2nd March, 2021. The witness revealed to the court that statements were obtained from her for more ten times at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). She furthered that she was coerced to agree that Khadija Saccoh (now deceased) fall off from her back.
The first defense witness said she knows the second accused person as her son in the dock and she knew the late Khadija Saccoh. She continued that the accusation that she killed the deceased with the second accused person is not true. “Before her death the deceased was with me as I took her at the age of four years when her mother left her with me” said the witness.
The first accused person continues to say “I loved Khadija and her mother use to say I am petting her and Isata Kabbah her aunt always made such statement to me. I normally take her out for fun, and we took several photos. The first accused person Khadija was a nice little girl” witness expressed.
Sajoh Barrie said on the 17the June she was at home and was feeling unwell when Khadija (now deceased) came and asked me what was happening with me, and I told her am dying and the second accused person (Ibrahim Bah) came out of his room and asked what happened and I told him I couldn’t stand to do anything.
The witness said her son the second person in the matter came out with hot water and gave to her. She told the court that she later sent the second accused person to buy ORS, later that evening the now deceased said I should carried her on my back which I did.
Defense witness said Alex was holding Khadija who felt later that evening (now deceased) and they took her to 34 hospitals. On their way they saw the second accused person who was instructed by the witness to go home and close all the doors and windows.
The witness continued that on their way to 34 Hospital, they diverted to Chorithram hospital where they lost Khadija Saccoh.
The witness said in the evening hours, IJ Kabbah came and took the remains of Khadija to the funeral home. She said during the Pathology examination Dr.Owiss Koroma was laughing and told them that Khadija was raped by two men and later the two police officers from Lumley Police Station told her that she was under arrest and was taken to the CID. The witness revealed that at the station over a phone conversation, IJ Kabba instructed the police officer to arrest her son the second accused.
The defense witness person said that the CID officers presume her guilty before investigations commenced. She said she was taken by the police to do finger print and I told him that Dr.Owiss Koroma said that there were no facilities for strangulation in the country.
The witness said they were four in number at the house at 25 Spur Road Wilberforce Freetown and she had lived with the deceased for one year and some months and with the second accused person Ibrahim Barrie.
The witness was cross examined by State Prosecutor Joseph A.K. Sesay, and both accused persons were represented by Alhaji Kamara and Teddy Koroma Esq. At the conclusion of the proceedings the Judge promised to send notices to various counsel for next sitting.