Janaury 25, 2022
By Audrey John
Elizabeth Judith Kanu made another appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on one count charge to wit murder contrary to law
According to the particulars of offence it was alleged that on Monday 6th September 2021 at UNIMAK Campus Fatima hostel Makeni Murder Sonia Mary Thomas
Lead in evidence by lawyer O.V Robin Mason Jr
Seventh Prosecution witness (PW7), Inspector Mathew TK Vangahun has clearly told the court that he charged the matter of Elizabeth Munde Judith Kanu student of UNIMAK to court based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutor (DPP).
Taking the witness stand and led in his examination in chief by State counsel OV Robin Mason Jr, the witness Inspector Mathew TK Vangahun recognized the accused in the dock. He said he was on duty on the 13 of September 2021 at the Homicide syndicate when he received a case an enquiry file from the regional town North_ East, Makeni, together with the accused.
He said the file contained statements of the witnesses, the accused, corona request, certificate of death for continuation of investigation.
The witness said on receiving the file, a team of detective including himself, the accused and three of the friends of the accused left for the crime scene at UNIMAK on the 29th of September 2021.
He said on arrival they were led to the Fatima hostel by pro. Father John Turay and thereafter they were led by the he accused to room 15 where the alleged incident took place.
Explaining further, the witness said whiles they are in the room the accused identified the bed she was seated and that of the deceased which was very close, and explained what transpired between her and the deceased on the date of the incident. He said thereafter the team returns to the administrative building and obtained additional statement from pro. Father John Turay and other people that were present.
He said the team later returned to Freetown and obtained final interview from the accused persons.
The police witness produced the cautioned statement of the accused person and tendered it to form part of the prosecution’s case.
Testing the evidence in cross examination by defense counsel JM Jengo, the police witness responding to a question put to him said that four suspects were presented to them.
The witness confirmed that by his knowledge, he read all the statements before charging the accused.
The witness said before the matter was charged to court, the other suspects were released on bail.
“I relied on the advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution to charge the accused”, the witness concluded.
At the conclusion of the witness testimony, magistrate Sahr Kekura adjourned the matter to the 31st of January 2022 for the next Prosecution witness to be dock.