May 7, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
Police Detective Officer, Bangura T.A attached to the crime exhibit office at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has testifying before Magistrate Sahr Keikura of Court No 1 in Freetown on the 5th May, 2021 at the Pademba Court in a case involving Alex Tamba Komba Nyana, Anthont Michael, Borboh Aruna, Patrick Aruna and Foday Kamara all are charged from wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and treating to burnt a house all contrary to the Laws of Sierra Leone.
According to police charged sheets, the accused persons are charged with three counts of wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and treating to burnt a house. It’s alleged in count one that the accused persons on the 14th April, 2020 at 45 Hill station Freetown wounded Augustine Ojiako.
In counts two, the accused persons assault occasioning actual bodily harm and on the third counts the accused persons threaten to burnt the house of the complainant.
Testifying in court the witness said he knew the five accused persons. Witness said he recalled the 25th April 2020 himself with Detective Police Officer 13820 Brewa B. finally interview the five accused persons separately and charged them to court. Witness said he charged the first accused person for wounding and assault , the second, third and fourth accused persons was charged for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and fifth accused person was charged for threaten to burnt the house. The witness tendered the statements taken from the five accused persons.
Under cross examination, defense Lawyer T.Bear asked the witness what offense he charged the first accused person with. Witness said for wounding and assault. Defense Counsel asked witness if he direct his attention on the element for charging the first accused person. Witness said yes. Defense counsel asked the witness to tell the court the elements that he used to charge the first accused person. The witness said based on the endorsed police medical report. Defense counsel asked the witness to tell the court about the element of for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The witness said the medical report. Defense counsel asked the witness if the second accused person inform him about the owner of the house. Witness said no. Another question was whether the witness investigated the statement made by the complainant that the house belongs to him. Witness said no but the complainant said the house belong to his brother. Defense council asked if the complainant and the second accused person did not inform him that the house belongs to them. Witness said not to his knowledge. Defense counsel put it to the witness that the second accused person is the owner of the house. The witness said he cannot justify. Defense counsel said if the witness cannot justify that the complainant and his brother own the house. Witness said according to his statement.
Defense counsel asked the witness if he investigated the ownership of the house. Witness said no. Defense counsel said as a result of him not investigating he will not be in any position to say that the complainant own the house. The witness said yes. The prosecutor for the case is Inspector A.Komba while T.Bear represented the five accused persons. The matter has been adjourned to the 13th May, 2021.