By: Audrey John
Abdul Karim Kamara from the Operations Support Division wing in Sierra Leone (SLP) force attached to the Funkia Police Post in Goderich Freetown on Friday, September 9, testified before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No. 1 in the ongoing matter involving Tamba Lebbie and four others.
The accused appeared before the court on two counts charges of conspiracy to murder and murder contrary to the Offence against the Person’s Act of 1861.
It was alleged by the police that the accused at Big Water, Main Peninsular Road in Goderich Freetown conspired with unknown persons to murder Memunatu Bangura.
Led in evidence by Sergeant 9155 Dwight Macarthy, prosecution witness, (PW) 3 Abdul Karim Kamara resident OSD personnel who works for the Sierra Leone police force told the court that he recognized the first, second and fourth accused persons, and could recall the day in question.
PW3 continued that on that day, he was at his residence at Tokek in Freetown when he received a phone call from Mr. Foday informing him about the incident.
He said upon receiving the information, he rushed to the Funkia Police post and when he arrived, he and two others boarded a motorbike and left for Big Water.
Mr. Kamara disclosed that on their way to the crime scene he saw a gathering at the scene.
He recounted that the fourth accused called to inform him about the said incident.
He said he, Michael Bockarie and Assistant Superintendent Police (ASP) Foday Sesay stopped the crowd and the first accused apprehended him and subsequently handed him over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the said post.
The said, later on, got information directed towards the second accused and he discovered blood stain on his clothe and was arrested and taken to the said police post.
During cross examination by Defense Counsel, Emmanuel Teddy Koroma put it to the witness that before the incident, he had known the accused before, to which he responded in the affirmative.
Lawyer Koroma suggested to him that the second accused also phoned and gave him information about the incident, to which he answered yes.
Mr. Koroma eventually put it to him that the only thing he did in respect of is when he escorted the first, second and fourth accused to the police station, to which he responded in the affirmative.
The prosecutor Sergeant Macarthy assured the bench that he would make another with on the next adjourned date.
The accused were denied bail and remanded at the Male and Female Correctional on Pademba Road in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to September 14, 2022.
