By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
Tenneh Brima made her first appearance before Justice John Bosco Alieu of the High Court no.1 in Freetown on a one count indictment of Murder.
The accused upon her arraignment pleaded not guilty to the offense.
Opening her case, State Prosecutor A.Kargbo Esq stated brief facts of the matter. According to her the accused is the mother of the victim and that the victim was left in her custody to take care of as mother but failed on doing so, and as a result of her negligence the victim Sia Sitta Kamara aged 2years old died in her care.
State Prosecutor A.Kargbo Esq said the burden and standard of proof against the accused person rests on the prosecution and as such four elements must prove that the accused is guilty of the offense.
State Prosecutor A.Kargbo said in proving the guilt of the accused person four elements of Murder must be proved beyond reasonable doubts in convicting the accused person as such she listed these elements thereof to a 12 man jury trial.
That the accused is of sound memory and discretion, that the accused did an act or omission which caused the death of the deceased, that what the accused did was done with malice afore- thought, that death occurred within a year and a day after the Act or Omission of the accused.
More on her opening, she said the accused in her statement said she dreamt of an old woman drowning her child in a river this she said is clear manifestation of pre-attempted murder of which prosecution alleged that on the same date the incident happened and the victim died the same day.
Prosecution alleged that on the 30th October 2020 at Hospital Quarters Mambo Village, Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Sia Sitta Kamara a 2years old girl was discovered dead and water was seen oozing from her mouth and nostrils as it was said that the accused took her daughter to the stream, few hours later the victim was pronounced dead.
First Prosecution Witness (PW1) Joseph Sombo a Medical Nurse attached at the Charlot Community Head Post (CHP) identified the accused person that the accused is her niece and that they lived together with the victim at Mambo.
According to the witness he recalled that on the 30th October 2020, in the morning hours the accused took her daughter (now deceased) to the stream. He said before leaving the house the deceased was hale and healthy, about an hour later he heard voices screaming and crying outside the hospital office that Sitta is dead!
Upon this he ran outside headed to his quarters were he heard the cry from and saw the deceased Sitta Kamara wrapped in bamboo mattress leaves on the floor.
A man he said stood by the side of the accused who normally visited her. He said with this he rushed with the victim to the hospital to examine her with hopes of resuscitating her again.
The witness said during examination of the corpse when the victim’s body was turned up side down, water was oozing out from the mouth, nostrils and ears of the deceased.
He continued that when the accused was questioned about the events, he told the court that accused said he backed the victim with a wrapper on her back, whilst trying to bathe the child slipped from her back and fell inside the river drowning.
The witness told the court that the matter was reported at the Adonkia police station, police visited the scene of crime and took photographs and investigations were conducted.
The witness broke down in tears explaining the tragic incident. Matter has been adjourned for further hearing.
C.Tucker Esq from Legal Aid board made an application withdrawing her representation for and on behalf of the accused person.
C. Campbell Esq represented the accused person and A.Kargbo Esq prosecuting.