By: Audrey John
Joseph Abu Bakarr Sanu a ballistic expert has on Tuesday 14 June 2022 Testified before magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court No1 on the alleged robbery with fire arms saga including David Steven.
The accused David Steven was before the court on two counts charge ranging from conspiracy contrary to law and robbery with aggravation contrary to section 23(1(a) of the larceny act 1916 as repealed and replace by section 2 of act no 16 of 1971.
The particulars of offence for count one stated that the accused on Monday 7th March 2022, at Regent Village in the western rural district conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a felony to with robbery with aggravation.
Whiles counts two added that the accused on the same date and place being armed with one short gun robbed Mariama Bangura the sum of twenty seven million Leones, two DVD laptop player, one Samsung Galaxy S7 mobile phone valued three million five hundred thousand Leones and other assorted items all to the total valued of thirty two million three hundred and fifty thousand Leones.
At the time of or immediately before such robbery, did use personal violence to the said Mariama Bangura.
The witness led in further evidence in chief by Sergeant 9155 Dwight Marcathy said he is a police Chief Inspector attached to the scientific support department CID HQ.
He said as a forensic fire arm expert, some of his duties include the examination of fire arms and it opponent to determine their operation ability.
He said on Friday 18 March 2022 whiles on duty, DSP Lansana Vandy line manager breaking and larceny syndicate submitted the undermentioned specimen for examination.
Which includes, One short gun pistol with round wooden grip with inscription SMS on both sides labelling as A, and also the two live Nobel scort 12 gage callibal cartridge.
The witness added that the short gun pistol was physically examined and subjected to functional test to determine whether it has effective pass that will prevent it from functioning properly.
According to him, the degree of trigger proof and other firing operational area were also examined.
He furthered that the two live cartridges were carefully studied to determine which fire arm that can chamber them.
He said he reduced his findings into a report signed and dated 3 May 2022 by himself as the lead annalist alongside four other police officers.
The said ballistic report was produced and tender marked as exhibit M 1-3.
The accused who was unrepresented cross examined the witness.
However, magistrate Keikura refused bail and remanded the accused in prison whiles the matter was adjourned to 20 June 2022.
Police Sergeant 9155 Dwight Marcathy was prosecuting the matter in court.
