By: Fatima Rogers
Justice Ivan Ansumana Sesay on Friday 1st September 2023 sentenced one Muniru Lebbie to fifty six years imprisonment as he was found guilty of killing military personnel Lieutenant Captain Jonathan Saidu.
The convict was standing trial before the court on three count charges of murder, being found in possession of small arms without license and unlawful concealment of arms contrary to law.
The indictment states that the convict on 21 December 2020 at Kono district murder RSLAF 18170594 L/C Jonathan Saidu.
The indictment further that the convict on the same day was found in possession of two shot guns without license and also unlawfully concealed two shot guns.
Prior to the judgement, Justice Ivan Ansumana Sesay said the prosecution called four witnesses to testify and the testimony of all the witnesses corroborated including the two shot guns that were tender before the court by the exhibit clerk.
He said the accused after the charges were read and explain to him denied the allegations
He said he has looked at the entire evidence and he found the accused guilty on all three count charges levied against him.
In his allocutus, the convict said he has nothing to tell the court.
Defense Counsel A. Kamanda in his plea mitigation pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy on the convict, adding that he is a family man and has been in custody since the inception of the matter.
State prosecutor Jessy Tucker in reply said the offense committed by the convict is a serious one that involves killing someone.
Justice Ivan Sesay having listened to both sides sentences the convict to forty years imprisonment for count one, ten years imprisonment for count two and six months imprisonment and the sentence should run concurrently.
He made an order that the two shot guns be confiscated by the state.