By: Audrey Raymonda John
A physically challenged man Mohamed Jalloh and Mariatu Conteh have been arraigned before magistrate Hardiru Daboh of Ross Road Court No.1 for Wounding and Assault contrary to section 47 against the Persons Acts of 1816.
It was alleged on the police charge sheet that on the 21st of May, 2023, at mountain cut, both accused wounded and assaulted complainant Henry Pious Lansana.
On the first appearance, both accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Taking the witness stand and led in evidence by Deputy Superintendent of Police Fatamata Kuyateh, the complainant Henry Pious Lansana after taking the oath on the Holy Bible recognized both accused persons Mohamed Jalloh and Mariatu Conteh.
He said on the 21st of May, 2022, he was at home with his family at Mountain Cut around 12:30 pm when both accused surfaced and deposited waste in his compound. The complainant said he questioned them as to why they are doing it, but responded that that is where they wanted to place it.
The complainant said the second accused who is physically challenged commented that if he stops her employees from doing their work, let the first accused Mohamed Jalloh beat and kill him.
The complainant said they were still arguing when the first accused challenged him that he is going to deposit the waste right on the rooftop.
” My lord, the first accused claimed their fence and started depositing the waste on his roof as planned”, he explained.
Explaining further, the complainant said the first accused jumped inside his compound and hit him behind his back with an iron which made him unconscious.
The complainant said he was struggling to get up when the second accused took a stone and hit him on the shoulder. He said he was later rescued by his wife and other neighbours who took him to the police and reported the matter.
He said he was given a police medical request form which he took to Rokupar Government hospital for examination and treatment. He further stated that the endorsed medical request form was later returned to the police who obtained a statement from him.
The medical request form was identified and marked as exhibit z to form part of the prosecution’s case.
Complainant said the police visited the crime scene and took photos of the damaged zinc and the facial board.
The prosecution was about to tender the phone which the complainant’s daughter used to record the incident when defence counsel objected that he is not the competent person to do so.
Magistrate Daboh advised the complainant to come with the person that recorded the content on the phone and the one that owned the phone which according to him has the right to do the same.
At the end of cross-examination, defence counsel AS Sesay renewed his application for bail for and on behalf of the accused persons.
Magistrate Daboh granted them bail of fifty thousand Leones with one surety in like sum, resided in Freetown.
He ordered that the surety should produce an identification card and their bail is to be approved by the Deputy Acting Registrar. He adjourned the matter to the 13th of April 2023.