By: Audrey Raymonda John
Detective Police Sergeant 10642 Ibrahim Kamara attached to the Criminal Investigation Department kissy police station as a crime scene officer on 14th March, 2023 took the witness stand to narrate what he observed when he visited the crime scene of the late Ann Marie Fudia Mansaray.
The deceased was alleged to have been murdered by her boyfriend 37 years old Edward Gray.
It was alleged on the police file that on Tuesday 20th September 2022 at No. 22b Old Railway line in Freetown unlawfully killed Ann Marie Fudia Mansaray.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police Osman Mohamed Bangura, the witness said it is his duty to be visiting crime scenes of all types, take photographs, collecting physical and forensic evidence and also come to court and give evidence when necessary.
He said on the 20th September 2022, a team of investigators including himself, visited the crime scene at No. 22b Old Railway line Brima Lane Kissy and on arrival they met the deceased Ann Marie Fudia Mansaray lying on her back inside their bed room.
The police witness said he also observed at the crime scene a screwdriver close to her, and he took photograph of the deceased with his digital camera after which the remains were conveyed to Connaught hospital mortuary for post mortem examination.
Explaining further the witness said on the 28th September 2022, the investigating officer detective police Constable 18009 Sandy M.M and a relative of the remains witness the autopsy examination.
The autopsy was conducted by pathologist Dr. Simeon Owiz Koroma and during the process he took several photographs.
He produced the digital camera which he used to take photographs of the incident and tendered it as exhibit.
In continuation, the witness said he selected the photos and develop them into a photo album tendered as exhibits E1 to12.
The witness was cross examined by defense counsel AB D John, the witness said he has been a crime scene officer for the past eleven years making him a season personnel. Confronting the witness about the month he performed his duty on the said matter, he said he did everything in September.
He denied been among the first team of Police officers that visited the crime scene when the incident happen but cannot tell whether those who went there before him tampered with the evidence.
In another question put to the witness, he responded that he never saw blood stain neither cut on the body of the deceased.
The witness said the previous officers informed him about the crime scene, but have no knowledge as to whether they went there with medical personnel to ascertain the cause of death. Questioning him further, the witness said he observed the room were the deceased was lying which according to him was ransacked.
Touching on the autopsy report, the witness said it was conducted on the 28th September 2020.
When questioned as to whether he knew that the deceased was a girlfriend to the accused, the witness said that was what he gathered from the relative. He said after the autopsy report the name of the deceased changed to corpse.
At some point the defense was posing some questions to the witness which the prosecutor said were unfair because he is not a medical practitioner.
In continuation the witness said in cross examination that after collecting physical evidence they handed them over to the exhibit clerk.
Hence, the matter was adjourned to Wednesday 22nd February 2023 for further cross examination.
