By: Audrey Raymonda John

Police Inspector Mathew JK Vangahun has on Thursday 5th October 2023 tendered the charged statement of Alpha Kamara a police officer accused of killing one Abubakarr Munu.

The accused was arraigned before magistrate Mark Ngegba of Court No1 for murder contrary to section 1 of the offences against the persons Act 1816, as repealed and replaced by the Abolition of the death penalty Act 2021 act No 6 of 2022.

According to the particulars of offense, the accused Alpha Kamara on Monday 14th August 2023, at Kissi Town in the Waterloo judicial district murdered Abubakar Munu. The prosecution witnesses No 3 Inspector Mathew JK Vangahun led in evidence by Sergeant 9939 Lahai Farma said he is attached to the Homicide Unit CID HQ Pademba road Freetown.

He said he recognized the accused person, adding that on the 16th August 2023, he received a case and enquiry file from the Waterloo police station for the offense of murder against the accused. The file he said contained the postmortem examination request, photographs of the deceased Abubakar Munu together with statements of witnesses and that of the accused for continuation of the investigation.

Inspector Vangahun said on the 17th August 2023, himself together with Inspector Paul Makiue visited the scene of crime at Kissi Town where the Afroted bar is and that they spoke to the owner who happens to be the complainant in the matter.

The complainant he said led them to the scene of crime at a nearby pharmacy where the accused fought with the deceased. He added that on the 18th August 2023, he obtained further statement from the accused.

 On the 21 August 2023, he said he witness the posmotem examination that was conducted on the remains of the deceased by Dr Simeon Owizz Koroma.

He said on the 11th September 2023, the file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutor office for advice, adding that thereafter, he charge the accused for the offence of murder. Both the voluntary caution and charge statements of the accused were produced and tendered in court respectively to form part of the evidence. Defense counsel lawyer Gevao during cross examination of the witness asked him as to how long he took to investigate the matter, the witness in reply said he took six days.

When he was asked as to whether the scene of crime officer went to the scene in his absence, the witness said yes. Lawyer Gevao also put it to the witness that during his investigation, he did not see any implement or object used on the deceased when he was allegedly strangulated, he reply in the afirmative. The witness further that the accused admitted in his statement that he indeed fought with the deceased but said during the fight he was overpowered by the deceased. It was also put to the witness that the accused denied the allegation of murder, he said yes.

The witness also disclosed during cross examination that, there is a warrant of arrest issued against four of the accused friends that are in the run as they were involved in the alleged incident.

When he was asked by lawyer Gevao as to where he was present during the postmortem examination that was conducted on the remains of the deceased, he replied in the afirmative, adding that there is evidence to show that during their fight the deceased was physically assaulted by the accused. Magistrate Ngegba remanded the accused in prison and adjourned the matter to the 12th October 2023. Police Sergeant 9939 Lahai Farma is prosecuting the matter.

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