By: Audrey Raymonda John
Fifth Prosecution witness (PW5) Inspector Matthew Karim Vagahun on 15th June 2023, narrated before magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No1 as to the investigation he did about the alleged murder of Mr Edward Ola Johnson.
The State Prosecutor Umu Sumaray led PW5 Inspector Matthew Karim Vagahun attached to the Criminal Investigation Department CID headquarters Pademba Road Freetown said he recognized the accused person and recalled Saturday 11th March 2023.
He said whilst on duty at the Homicide Syndicate office detective inspector Tamba of Central Police Station arrested and brought the accused person who was putting on black trousers with no shirt and a wound on his hand.
The witness said an enquiry file was transferred to the said station and upon the receipt of the file he obtained a statement from the accused person on the said date himself and Inspector Tamba interviewed the accused person on Sunday the 12th of March 2023.
PW5 said he together with a team of investigators together with the scene of crime officer visited the scene of the crime at No.4 Victoria Street Freetown. Upon their arrival at the premises of the deceased, he observed that the parlour of the deceased was ransacked and blood stained from the carpet on the floor to the bedroom of the deceased.
The witness further informed the court that he later went to bed room a white t-shirt was discovered and a vest with blood stains all over, the witness said whilst they were searching for evidence, they find a knife with a black handle with a blood stain on it and also a black and brown pair of slippers belonging to the deceased.
He said the said items were collected by the scene of crime officer Sergeant 90074 Kanu and were placed in the evidence bag and were later taken to the Criminal Investigation Department.
The witness further that on the 12th March 2023, a team of investigators together with the accused person left the station for research at No.27 Thoronka Drive at the premises of the accused person a search was conducted an empty form was found, written “HOODLE RICH GANG “which was produced and tender in court to form part of the court records.
In conclusion of the research, the evidence gathered at the premises of the accused person was taken to the police station on the 13th of March 2023. The accused person was taken to the Kingdom government hospital for treatment with regards to the wound he sustained on his hand; the accused was asked where he sustained the wound, and he responded that he sustained the wound when he was with his teacher on the 14th March 2023.
The witness said he together with a team of investigators left for the crime investigators Department Waterloo division for a fact-finding mission on the 15th of March and Sergeant 90074 Kanu went for the autopsy report of the remains of the deceased.
PW5 said he discovered that there was no stab on the body of the deceased except for the wound on his throat with four pens; two red and two blue on his throat at the conclusion a photocopy of the cause of death and a certificate was handed over to the deceased family.
On the 4th of May 2023 together with DPC 1414 Momoh further interviewed the accused person in respect of a Bluetooth device owned by the deceased, the witness said the said statement was read over and explained to the accused person and was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
Cross-examination by defense counsel Emmanuel Teddy Koroma Esq putting his questions to the witness on the 11th of March was the first time you ever saw the accused person the witness, he said yes, were you informed that the accused person made a statement at the Aberdeen police station the witness said no as he was not informed, was it the first time the accused person has been visiting the accused person the witness said No, the accused person told you that himself and the deceased was watching a football game when they had a knock on the door; the witness said yes that was what he alleged, the accused person told you that he was about to open the door when the deceased told him that he will open the door the deceased open the door he saw a police officer with guns; the witness said that was what he alleged, he concluded.
The accused was arraigned on one count of murder contrary to law.
According to police, the accused Mohamed Haroun Conteh on Saturday 11 March 2023 at No5 Victoria Street Freetown murdered Mr Edward Ola Johnson.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Ngegba refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional centre in Freetown and adjourned the matter to the 22nd of June 2023.