By: Audrey Raymonda John
In the ongoing murder trial of Abdul Kpaka, the first prosecution witness, Christiana Kamara, testified before Justice Alfred Ganda that the deceased, Sia Fatu Kamara, insisted on continuing her relationship with the accused because she was deeply in love with him even though he was allegedly abusive.
Under cross-examination by Lawyer Emmanuel Teddy Koroma, the witness who is the younger sister of the deceased said she never personally witnessed Kpaka insulting her sister but maintained that Sia had often confided in her about the abuse.
Christiana stated that she had known Kpaka for over eight years and acknowledged that her sister and the accused were in a serious romantic relationship. When asked if she believed Kpaka truly loved her sister, she responded, “I don’t know if he loved her, but she truly loved him.”
The witness disclosed that she was previously close to the accused and respected him as her sister’s fiancé. However, her opinion of him changed after her sister’s death.
She confirmed that Kpaka was well-known as a youth and human rights activist, a lecturer at Fourah Bay College (FBC), and President of a social club at the university. She also confirmed that Kpaka remained with the family from the moment Sia’s body was handed over at the Emergency Hospital, through the prayers held at their home, and up until the body was taken to the mortuary.
During her testimony, Christiana denied ever telling police investigators that her sister suffered from breathing difficulties. However, when shown her statement, she admitted it mentioned that Sia occasionally experienced shortness of breath after physical activity.
She explained that the breathing difficulty occurred once in her presence and was never serious enough to require hospitalization. She rejected a suggestion that the issue was related to a heart condition, stating, “I’m not a medical doctor, so I cannot say that.”
Christiana told the court that she became suspicious about the cause of her sister’s death after noticing a cut on her upper lip and blood stains on her lower lip. She said this raised doubts about the narrative surrounding Sia’s passing.
The defense suggested that Sia might have fallen while being carried up the stairs of the three-story building where the witness and accused lived—possibly causing her injuries. However, Christiana dismissed the claim, saying the deceased was carried by strong, healthy men and that an accidental fall was unlikely.
She also recalled that during the prayer session for Sia’s recovery, she strongly felt that her sister had already passed away and would not be resuscitated.
Christiana told the court that when Sia was brought back from the hospital for prayers, the accused and his relatives helped carry her body upstairs. Several pastors and prayer teams were called to the home in a desperate attempt to bring her back to life, but there was no response from the deceased.
Abdul Kpaka is currently facing three charges, including murder and perverting the course of justice. The trial continues on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.