By:Audrey John
Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.2 has remanded Abu Koroma at the Male Correctional Centre Pademba for hitting with an iron rod on the head of the deceased.
The deceased eventually died at Connaught Hospital in Freetown.
The incident occurred on Sunday 20th March 2022 at Kanigo Community Lumley in Freetown.
The accused appeared before Magistrate Mark Ngegba on a count of murder contrary to the law of Sierra Leone.
The charge sheet adduced that the accused, on Sunday 20th March, 2020 at the abovementioned address, in Freetown murdered Momoh Turay.
Led in evidence by Sub-Inspector Baindu Bona prosecution witness number one Santigie Kabba, who was a friend to the deceased told the bench that he recognized both the accused and the deceased as his neighbors.
Kabba said on that day himself and the deceased with other friends were heading home, he said one of them received a phone, informing him that his mother, whose name was not mentioned had passed away.
As a result, PW1 said they went to the residence, adding that upon their arrival, the accused’s daughter started abusing them.
He furthered stated the accused then came outside and uttered a statement saying that the group they came with to fight was small for him.
He detailed the court that the victim told him again that they were only there for the bereaved family.
Kabba said when the victim said this, the accused instantly rushed into his bedroom and took an iron rod, noting that the others ran away or fled the scene.
He said he then pursued one of them, but he was unable to hit with the iron rod, saying on his return, he hit the deceased on the head seriously and both of them fell on the ground.
The witness said when the accused noticed the accused was bleeding profusely, he rushed to his room.
This warranted or prompted him to start screaming for help. He said a passersby, who he could not recall his name helped him boarded on motorbike and conveyed the victim to the Lumley Police Division, where he was issued with a police medical request form for treatment at the Lumley Health Centre.
“When I arrived at the aforesaid health centre, due to the victim condition referred us to the Connaught Hospital in Freetown, ” PW 1 narrated to the bench.
The witness concluded his evidence stating he made a statement to the Lumley Police Division, but he later received a phone call from the victim’s brother, who informed him that he had passed away in the Hospital.
During cross examination by the defence A.Kargbo asked the witness if he knew the exact date and time when the incident allegedly occurred, which he responded in the affirmative.
Lawyer Kargbo suggested to him that on the day of the incident both the accuseds and the victim’s sister and the accused’s mother in law were quarrelling.
The witness answered “no”.
Mr Kargbo posed several questions to the witness, which he responded to them all.
He attempted to apply for bail on behalf of his client, but he was denied bail and was sent to the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown, while the matter was adjourned to 30th June, 2022.
