By: Audrey Raymonda John
Fourth Prosecution witness (PW4) Salifu Bangura in the ongoing murder trial against former Sky Bank Manager, the witness said he saw the accused lying helpless when he visited the scene. The witness told Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Court No.1 on Pademba road, Freetown what he knows about the death of Sinnah Kai Kargbo accused by Ekubolajie Nicol.
He started by saying he is Salifu Bangura who lives at No. 1 Nicol drive Leicester village, he is a caretaker taking care of his boss house Ekubolajie Nicol (accused) and has known him for over 9 years and they live at the same address (No. 1 Nicol drive, Leicester).
PW4 told the Court him and his family stays at the boys quarter whiles the accused lives alone. On the 16th around 6:00am the OSD Personnel by the name of Mustapha call him, and as he was going he saw a lady coming out of the house of the accused, but he did not know her.
He further that he did not see her face as the place was dark, then he went up to the house of the accused and saw Ibrahim Sorie the OSD Personnel Mustapha, the decease Sinnah Kargbo and the accused, but when he entered the room he saw the accused holding the decease Sinnah Kai Kargbo and recalled that he knew her for the 4 years.
According to the witness, he said he saw the decease as someone that is sick or having an attack, then he heard the accused saying this woman is not well and saw the decease breathing profusely and saw her unconscious. He further that he saw the decease not wearing clothes as she was naked and he wore clothes on her and was helped by those present and took the decease to the vehicle of the accused, then the accused drove off to Doctor Shuman hospital and as they reach the accused went inside the hospital and asked for nurse to take the decease inside which they put her on a wheelchair and took her inside.
After few minutes he heard that Sinnah Kai Kargbo was dead according to the witness. Then the accused gave him keys to his vehicle and took bike and told him he is going to relatives of the decease. Few minutes he saw one of the driver for the accused call Maada came and went inside the hospital and saw the nurses took out the decease and handed over to them and they put her inside the vehicle of the accused and drove off to Colombia Davies Mortuary at Circular road, Freetown as per instruction from Maada, and he went inside the mortuary as he was outside waiting for Maada.
And he saw people coming out and they came to the vehicle and brought out the decease and took her inside the funeral parlor and him, Maada and Mustapha returned home at Leicester, but Mustapha and Maada went out again but he did not go but stay at home. But the accused father Pa Nicol, Marvin, Lawrence and one FA entered the house of the accused, as he was the one that open the door of the accused house as he gave him the keys.
The witness further that few minutes he saw Police Officers knock at the gate and then they entered the compound and they went into operations by searching the whole house which took over an hour. They took photos all over the house and went away. But since then he did not set eyes on the accused only when he came to testify on Wednesday December 28th 2022.
Again fifth Prosecution witness (PW5) Ibrahim Sorie said he is a security employed by Taflol Security Agency and was assigned to the accused residence at No. 1 Nicol drive, Leicester village, Freetown, and he is permanently stationed at night.
He went on to say, he usually arrived late at night for work and did not see the OSD Personnel Mustapha, on the 16th around 6:00am the accused call him, one Mustapha, Salifu and Ibrahim Sorie to come into his house and he saw a woman inside the bedroom lifeless lying on the floor, and he was helped by others and took her out and the accused went and took his vehicle and instructed them to take the decease to hospital which they went to the hospital, but he told the Court he did not know the decease before.
But he did not go with accused and others to the hospital but was at home with the caretaker’s wife. The witness further that the accused came home around 8-9 am which he opened the gate and saw the accused with urgency and left again with urgency and since then he did not set eyes on him until now when he is testifying.
Cross examination was conducted by Roland SV Wight Esq. Matter adjourned to the 10th January 2023, while AGM Bockarie is representing the State.