By: Audrey Raymonda John
Detective inspector Brima Amara Munu attached to the Criminal Investigation Department Central police station has narrated steps he took to investigate the alleged murder involving the Skye Bank Manager.
Ikubolaje Nicole is before magistrate Marke Ngegba for Preliminary hearing conspiracy to murder, murder and perverting the course of justice.
Led in evidence by state counsel A Jalloh, the police witness said on the 16th October 2022, he was on duty when one Idrissa Kamara together with the OPS officer Superintendent Momoh brought in the accused and on arrival, Idrissa make a report of an alleged murder involving Sinnah Kargbo.
He said the report was recorded by him and he went further with the investigations. The witness said he obtained statement from Idrissa Kamara, the relative of the deceased and the accused was detained in the cell.
Explaining further the third prosecution witness said during investigation the relative of Sinnah Kargbo told him the remains was at Connaught hospital mortuary. He said upon arrival at the mortuary the requested for the body to brought out in order for them to look at it and at that point Idrisa Kamara identified it. The witness said he instructed the scene of crime officer to take a snap shot of the body.
“My lord the deceased was wearing a white T shirt and black trousers”, he stated.
The witness said when he returns to the station, voluntary statement was obtained from the accused. He said he was cautioned and questioned in English and recorded his statement when he signed with his signature upon completion.
He was showed the statement by State counsel A Jalloh which was tendered as exhibits A one to three.
The witness said based on the intelligence received he prepared a search warrant and a team of investigators, including himself, relative of the deceased and the accused proceeded to search the premises of the accused at Nicole drive Leicester village.
He said the accused opened the door and they commenced searching for a clue and discovered female pants, one black bra, bed sheets and one Samsung mobile phone which they treated as exhibits.
The witness said the search warrant was endorsed and the accused made an undertaken that he was satisfied with the process whiles the scene of crime officer take photos of scene.
The witness produced the endorsed search warrant signed and dated and tendered it as exhibit B.
Taking a look as exhibit B, the witness re read and confirmed what was written and endorsed as instructed by state counsel A. Jalloh.
He said on their way to the station, he received instructions that the matter should be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department together with the accused for further investigation.
Testing the evidence by lead defense counsel Roland Wright, the witness said he obtained statement from the person who reported the matter to them.
Defense counsel requested for the above statement to be shown to him but the prosecution said it was not in their possession as at now. Defense counsel asked the prosecution to make it available on the next adjourned date.
The witness confirmed that it was when they returned to the station he obtained statement from the accused who at that time was unrepresented.
Defense counsel confronted the witness to ascertain where he finds two Justices of the Peace on a Sunday to sign the search warrant; he responded that the paper was signed before they begin their investigations.
The witness in further cross examination said the search conducted at the premise of the accused was legal.
Defense counsel also confronted the witness that during the time the report was made the corpse was at Colombia Davis funeral home, but he responded that they met the corpse was at Connaught hospital mortuary.
The defense at this stage applied for the statement of the person who reported to the police to be produced together with the pictures confirming their presence at Connaught hospital mortuary.
Responding to the above, state counsel said the defense does not make any references to the provision he made for his application.
Magistrate Marke Ngegba said since the witness has stated who took the photos, it is left with the prosecution to tender them.
He further overruled the application made by defense counsel.
However, the matter was adjourned to Tuesday 20th December 2022 for the prosecution to dock their next witness.
