By: Audrey Raymonda John
Four accused persons have appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on two counts of wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The accused are Abdullah Andrew Joseph Tarawallie (electrician), Josephine Tarawalloe (trader), Onikie Tarawalli, and Abdulai John Tarawalli Kamara.
They are charged with wounding contrary to Section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to Section 47 of the same Act.
According to the particulars of offence, the incident occurred on December 29, 2025, at Thompson Bayogff, Wilkinson Road, Freetown. The defendants are alleged to have unlawfully wounded Bai Koroma and caused him actual bodily harm.
Prosecution Witness 2 (PW2), Sarah Yanguba, testified that she knew all the accused persons as her neighbours and the complainant as her uncle.
She told the court that on the day of the incident, she was sitting on her veranda when a dispute broke out between the complainant and the first defendant over the use of a gutter. She said the first defendant had warned against pouring water into the gutter, which led to an argument.
According to her testimony, the complainant went into his house and later came out with water, intending to pour it into the gutter. However, a woman allegedly took the bucket from him, causing water to spill on his feet, which escalated the argument.
PW2 further stated that the second, third, and fourth defendants later joined in the confrontation. She alleged that the situation escalated when individuals linked to the first defendant damaged the complainant’s gate and that one person, not before the court, struck the complainant with a stone on the face.
She also told the court that all four defendants entered the complainant’s compound and allegedly assaulted him. She claimed the complainant was beaten with stones, bottles, and sticks with nails attached, resulting in injuries and bleeding.
PW2 added that the complainant’s son later intervened and separated the parties, after which the defendants allegedly continued by throwing stones at the complainant’s house while he was injured.
She further testified that the complainant reported the matter to the Congo Cross Police Station, where he was issued a medical report and referred to the 34 Military Hospital. PW2 also confirmed that she gave a statement to the police.
Defense counsel applied for bail and requested time for cross-examination. However, Magistrate Fornah denied the bail application and ordered that the accused remain in custody.
The matter has been adjourned to May 5, 2026, for further hearing.