By: Audrey Raymonda John
Twenty-eight-year-old businessman Adekalie Conteh made his first appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at the Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown, facing three serious charges, including Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Murder, and Malicious Damage.
The charges are based on alleged violations of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021 (Act No. 6 of 2022), as well as the Malicious Damage Act 1861.
According to the prosecution, on Sunday, 16th February 2025, at Tokeh Grassfield, Main Peninsular Road, Western Area, Freetown, Adekalie Conteh allegedly conspired with unknown individuals to commit murder. The second count alleges that he murdered Andrew Mansaray on the same date and at the same location. The third count alleges that he maliciously damaged a Bluetooth musical set valued at Le 3,000, property of Francis Lebbie.
When the charges were read and explained in court, no plea was taken.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sorie Conteh led the prosecution and presented the second witness, DPC 17861 Issa Kargbo, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Lumley Police Station.
DPC Kargbo confirmed recognizing the accused and the complainant. He recalled that on 19th February 2025, while on duty, he was assigned the case and initiated investigations, obtaining statements from witnesses and the complainant. On 21st February 2025, he and Crime Scene Officer DPC 13164 Turay S, along with a relative of the deceased, visited the crime scene in Tokeh Village. There, they discovered bloodstains, and photographs were taken by the crime scene officer.
That same day, DPC Kargbo and Sergeant 84804 Bah M. obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused in Krio, which was recorded in English. The statement was read back to the accused, who confirmed its accuracy by affixing his right-hand thumbprint. The statement was tendered in court as part of the evidence.
On 24th February 2025, a request was made to the Chief Medical Examiner for a postmortem examination. The autopsy was conducted on 26th February 2025, and both the cause of death certificate and the autopsy report were produced and admitted into evidence.
On 27th February 2025, the accused was formally charged using the same procedure as the earlier caution statement. Legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)*was also presented and tendered in court as part of the record.
The witness was later cross-examined by defense counsel M.S. Kargbo.
Magistrate Bangura refused bail and remanded the accused at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 24th April 2025 for further proceedings.