By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
Mohamed Johnson, Aiah Komba, Kalilu Fofanah, Victor Kellie and Ishmeal Charles are all accused persons standing trial before Justice Monfred Sesay of the high court no.1 in Freetown on two count charge of Conspiracy to Murder and Murder.
On count 1 the accused persons are charged with Conspiracy to Murder contrary to section 4 of the offences against the person Act 1861.
According to the particulars of offence the accused persons on diverse dates between the 19th April 2021 and the 21st April 2021 at koidu town, Kono District in the Eastern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone Conspired together to murder Kai Osman Fengai
The statement of offence charge is Murder and the particulars of offence states that the accused persons on the 20th April 2021 at Koidu town, Kono District in the Eastern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone murdered Kai Osman Fengai.
The State Prosecutor A.Jalloh Esq in his opening address to members of the Jury said it is the duty of the Prosecution to prove its case against the accused person by proving all the elements.
He said the deceased Mr.Kai Osman Fengai was with Komba Sandy, Sahr J Boima in the vehicle of Tamba Senesie who was driving at Bona Street Koidu town.
When the accused persons together with other unknown persons attacked them on the basis that the deceased and Sahr J Boima, Tamba Senesie, Komba Sandy, were not in support of Chief Alhaji Sam Sumana for the upcoming Presidential elections and that they are cheats that instead of supporting Chief Alhaji Sam Sumana for the elections they decided to switch over to the National Grand Coalition Party (NGC) which according to them were considered as betrayals.
Second Prosecution Witness (PW1) Komba Sandy who lives at Kono, and a pupil at the Anzarul Boys School said the deceased was his friend and recognizes all accused persons in respect of the matter.
He said on the 20th April 2021, he was with Mr Senesie in his vehicle and that he and Sahr J Boima along with the deceased were together to get a haircut at Bonna Street and Mr. Senesie parked his car at the barber’s shop to get a haircut and that he and Sahr J Boima sat at the back seat whilst Mr. Senesie and the deceased sat at the front seat.
He continued that he saw the second accused coming from the left had side of the line and stood infront of the car of Mr Senesie and rained insults on Mr Senesie that he has betrayed the cause by saying that Cheif Alhaji Sam Sumana should not be president and furthermore has switched over to the NGC party.
He said the deceased Mr. Osman Fengai stepped out of the vehicle and tried to caution the second accused person.
Mr Tamba Senesie is pleading to the second accused to allow them to pass but all the pleas fell on deaf ears and that later on he also tried talking to them to be law abiding citizens and that politics should not divide them but he said the second accused also reigned insults on him.
He went on to state that he saw the third accused and the first accused from the left hand side of the road also join the second accused and all of them reigned insults on them and blocked them from moving.
He said a woman also tried to talk to them who was a soap seller that was passing by but was also insulted.
He said he saw the first accused coming with a knife closer to Mr Fengai the deceased and stabbed him.
He continued that he saw the 4th accused person with a rock that he used to hit the decease on his head when the decease dropped to the ground he rushed to the deceased another suspect whom he said was not part of the accused persons standing trial named Muka hit him on the head with a stick and he also fell on the ground crying for help.
Prosecution Witness Komba Sandy said the accused persons crossed over to the left hand side of the road and pelted stones towards them and that the deceased was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, thereafter he made reports to the police regarding the incident.
He said the deceased was stabbed on the chest.
The State Prosecutor is A.Jalloh Esq and R.S Bangura Esq from the Legal Aid Board representing all accused persons.
