By: Audrey John
29yrs Old Ibrahim Mohamed Kamara has been arraigned before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on one count charge of Murder.
According to the charge sheet, it was alleged that on Saturday 21st January, 2022 at Rotheren Village, Rorrende Chiefdom, Port Loko district the North West in the Republic of Sierra Leone, the accused murdered Alpha Bankoh
The charge was read and explained to him and no plea was taken.
Testifying on the matter, Prosecution witness number one, Detective Police Constable 15299 Momoh Santigie Bangura attached to the Criminal Investigation Department Lunsar police station recognized the accused person in the dock.
He said on the 22nd January 2022, he was on duty when one Amara Kamara an elder of Rotheren village assisted by Sub inspector Abu Sama Bangura arrested and brought in the accused person with one blue unregistered TVS moto bike and reported a case of alleged murder. He said the accused person was having blood stains on his clothes and they alleged that the accused person killed the person that has the unknown bike that was brought to the police station.
The witness said the alleged incident occurred on Friday 21st January 2022 around 8:30pm and having received the report they detained the accused.
Explaining before the peaceful court, the witness said early in the morning the accused person told him that he allegedly killed the bike rider at the site he was guarding at the said village.
The witness also stated that the blood which was all over his body was that of the deceased called Alpha.
“My lord, after such confession a team of police officers from Lunsar together with the accused person went to the crime scene where they observed some amount of Struggling because cassava plants was broken and some footsteps were detected”, he stated.
The witness further narrated that at that point the accused person identified a cutlass which was stained with blood and admitted to them, that it was the cutlass he used to chop the deceased at the scene.
He said the scene of crime officer took photographs of the cutlass, collected it and proceeds further to the garden where they saw a mark which the accused told them was that of the deceased. He said the accused also led them to another area where they saw a yellow and white coat stain with blood that the accused person identified the deceased was putting on.
“My lord the accused further led us to the remains of the deceased which was lying down under a palm tree naked at Savanna land and the scene of crime officer took photographs of it”, the witness said
In continuation of his examination in chief, the witness said they interviewed the accused person and he told them that he chopped the deceased twice.
The police witness said they observed injuries on the chin and the head of the deceased.
He said after discovering the remains, they conveyed it to the mortuary and went on a search warrant at the premises of the accused. He said during the search, they found a long dagger and a kitchen knife, at that point they returned with the accused person, together with other exhibits.
The witness said on that same day, he obtained statements from complainant who reported the matter on the 23rd January 2022.
He said later, some relatives of the deceased including one Fatmata Bankoh arrived at his house and claimed that the photos they saw on WhatsApp is their relative and they went to the Mortuary were they identified the deceased as Alpha Sankoh alias Designer.
“I also obtained statement from Fatmata Sankoh the relative of the deceased”, he testified.
The witness said on the 24th January 2022, himself and Inspector E Sankelekeh obtained voluntary caution statement from the accused person. He said the accused was cautioned and questioned in Krio, and his statement was recorded in English.
“My lord at the end of the interview, his statement was read over to him in krio language, and in the process, the accused person debunked the interview and told them he is tired.
The witness said on the 25th day of January 2022 the accused person made statements in krio language and the end it was read and explained to him, and he admitted it to be true and correct and signed by afflicting his right hand thumb print. He said the statement was witnessed by Inspector E Sakelehkeh and he signed as the recorder. The statement of the accused was produced and tendered as exhibit A1-42.
Testifying further, the witness said on the 26th January 2022, he transferred the case and enquiry file with the accused person at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters for further investigation.
During Cross examination by defense counsel W.C Eloba the witness said he investigates the matter based on what he saw and discovered.
The witness further stated in cross examination that the accused told them that he was attacked by two men.
Having heard the testimony of the witness, magistrate Sahr Keikura refused the accused bail and ordered for him to be remanded at the male correctional center in Freetown. He adjourned the matter to the 15th March 2022.
