By: Audrey Raymonda John
A 28-year-old man, Sam Momoh, also known as “Mende Boy,” has been committed to stand trial at the High Court in Freetown for the alleged murder of Joshua Mansaray, a staff member linked to the Office of the First Lady.
The committal was made by Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 after preliminary proceedings. The accused is facing two charges: conspiracy to commit murder and murder, contrary to Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as amended by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021.
According to the particulars of offence, the alleged incident occurred on Saturday, 24 January 2026, at Lodge Junction, Kingharman Road, in the Western Urban Area of Freetown. The prosecution alleges that the accused conspired with others to commit murder and unlawfully killed Joshua Mansaray on the same date and location.
When the charges were read and explained, no plea was taken from the defendant.
The prosecution, led by Chief Superintendent of Police Tommy B. Zizer, called its second witness, Detective Police Constable 8826 Sulaison Mukeh Konneh of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Pademba Road.
In his testimony, Detective Konneh told the court that on Monday, 26 January 2026, he received the case file along with the accused from the Central Police Division concerning the death of the deceased. He said the matter was assigned to him for further investigation.
He explained that on the same day, he and Detective Alhaji Chernor Kamara conducted an interview and obtained a caution statement from the accused. The statement was later produced and tendered in court as Exhibits A1-A11.
The witness further testified that on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, the police requested a postmortem examination from the Chief Medical Officer and made efforts to obtain relevant CCTV footage.
He added that on Wednesday, 4 February 2026, he witnessed the autopsy at Connaught Hospital. The cause of death certificate was subsequently tendered in court as Exhibit D.
Detective Konneh also informed the court that on 9 February 2026, additional witness interviews were conducted and voluntary statements obtained and submitted as evidence.
According to his testimony, the police sought legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on 26 February 2026. The advice, received earlier on 20 February 2026, recommended that the accused be charged with conspiracy to commit murder and murder.
The witness confirmed that the accused was subsequently charged accordingly.
The defendant, who was not legally represented, cross-examined the witness.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, CSP Zizer informed the court that the prosecution had concluded its evidence.
In his ruling, Magistrate Jah stated that, having carefully examined the evidence presented, he was satisfied that a prima facie case had been established. He therefore committed the accused to stand trial at the High Court on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.
The defendant was remanded in custody pending the hearing and determination of the matter at the High Court.