By: Audrey John
Haja Kamara a trader has on Wednesday 24th August 2022 testified during the preliminary investigation into the alleged murder of her son Amidu Kargbo involving four accused persons.
The accused persons Abubakar Suleiman Kamara, Dora Samuella Kamara, Benjamin Mohamed Lamin Kamara and Imatu Suleiman Kamara made their second appearance before magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No1 and were arraigned on two counts charges of conspiracy and murder contrary to law.
The particulars of offences states that the accused persons on Tuesday 5 July 2022, at No 4 Mammah Lane Kambia 2 in the Magbema chiefdom North-West judicial district Northern province of the republic of Sierra Leone conspired together with other persons unknown to murder Amidu Kargbo.
Whiles counts two added that all the accused persons on the same date and place murdered Amidu Kargbo.
Prior to the testimony of the mother, the prosecution witness No 1 Mustapha Jalloh led in evidence by ASP Christina Davis Cole Esq said he is a masoner and he recognized all the accused persons together with the deceased as his neighbors.
He further recalled on Tuesday 5 July 2022.
The witness said on that day at around morning hours, his father gave him NLe150 to buy a secondhand phone, adding that on his way to purchase the phone he met the deceased who showed him one Galaxy phone for sale.
“I took the phone from him and switch it on, and I saw fourth accused picture on the screen, upon that I returned the phone to him and rushed to the accused persons house where I heard that she has lost her phone”, the witness said.
Jalloh continued that upon hearing that he then informed the accused persons that he had seen the phone with the deceased, adding that he together with all the accused persons went to where he had earlier on met the deceased but he was not there, noting further that he was later directed to his house.
He said on their way they met with the deceased, and that third accused asked him about the phone but he denied having the phone.
According to the witness, third accused then place his hand in the deceased pocket and removed the phone.
” I then called for bike to take us to the police station, but the third accused refuses saying that we should take him to their house which we did, at the house, fourth accused said we should not take him to the station and that we should beat him and let him go”,
He said first accused then called for a rope which they used to tie the deceased and started hitting him with a flower stick whiles others hit him with their hands.
He said second accused then requested for her grind pepper which they used on his private parts and then continued beating him.
During the process he was untied and he then ran away from them. He said he also went home and that whiles at home, he received information that the deceased had died and he later made statement to the police.
During cross examination by lawyer Gevao, the witness confirm that he was the one that saw the phone with the deceased and later he informed third accused person about the said phone.
The witness also agreed with the lawyer that the phone that was removed from the deceased pocket by third accused was the fourth accused phone.
The witness said it was only the accused persons that beat the deceased and that there is video evidence to the effect.
In further cross examination, the witness said when the rope was removed from the deceased he could not run properly and that when he was running none of the accused chased him.
He also disclosed to the court that the actual plan of the accused persons was to only beat the deceased and let him go.
Lawyer Gevao applied for some portion of the witness statement to be read to him were he told the police that some youths also ran after the deceased whiles he was running, but the witness denied saying that was not what he told the police. He also confirms that the incident occurred in the afternoon hours.
Lawyer Gevao also put it to the witness that he could not tell what happened to the deceased after he ran away until his demise, he replied in the affirmative.
Prosecution Witness No 2 who happens to be the mother of the deceased Haja Kamara in her evidence said she is a trader and the accused persons are her neighbors.
She recalled Tuesday 5 July 2022, adding that on that day she was at home when she saw a group of people running toward Moya hotel and she followed them.
“Upon my arrival I saw my son lying dead by Moya hotel, I immediately called my husband`s brother and informed him about what had happen”, the witness said.
According to her, she later made statement to the police.
At this stage magistrate Mark Ngegba remanded all the accused persons in prison and the matter was adjourned to 29th August 2022 for further hearing.
