By: Audrey Raymonda John
A prosecution witness has testified before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 in Freetown that he allegedly witnessed one of two twin brothers stabbing his brother, Mumunie Bah, during a confrontation at PWD Quarters on July 4, 2026.
The witness, Alie Bangura, a businessman and Prosecution Witness Two (PW2), was testifying in the ongoing trial involving 46-year-old twin brothers, Alhassan Fofanah and Alusine Fofanah.
The two defendants are facing five counts, including conspiracy to murder, murder, wounding with intent, wounding, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
According to the charge sheet, the murder charge is contrary to Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, as repealed and replaced by Section 1(a) of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act of 2021, Act No. 6 of 2022.
The defendants are also charged with wounding with intent, contrary to Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861; wounding, contrary to Section 20 of the same Act; and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 47 of the Act.
The particulars of the offences alleged that on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at No. 69A, Back of PWD Quarters, Sumaila Town, Freetown, the two defendants, together with other persons unknown, conspired to murder Mumunie Bah.
It is further alleged that on the same date and at the same location, the defendants wounded Alie Bangura with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm and maliciously wounded and assaulted him, thereby causing actual bodily harm.
When the charges were read and explained to the defendants, no plea was taken.
Testifying in court, Bangura said he resides at PWD Quarters in Freetown and had known both defendants for about one year. He also told the court that the deceased, Mumunie Bah, was his brother.
Bangura recalled that on July 4, 2026, he and his late brother had gone to buy food along Model New Road. After eating at home, he received a telephone call from his friend, Alusine, who wanted transportation to meet him.
He said he instructed Alusine to take a motorcycle to meet him at Providence Steps.
While waiting for his friend, Bangura said the first defendant came out of his gate. He greeted him, but the defendant allegedly told him not to greet him and called him a “rude boy.”
Bangura said he ignored the remark, but the first defendant allegedly ordered him to leave the place where he was standing.
He told the court that he responded that the area belonged to the government and that he would not leave.
According to Bangura, the second defendant subsequently came out and asked what was happening. After Bangura explained the situation, he said the second defendant allegedly slapped him and pushed him into a gutter.
Bangura testified that he got up and was about to return home when he met his brother, Mumunie Bah, and explained what had happened between him and the defendants.
He said Mumunie then accompanied him back to the scene and began questioning the defendants.
According to Bangura, during the ensuing confrontation, the second defendant allegedly slapped Mumunie.
He said the first defendant then grabbed Mumunie.
Bangura testified that when he attempted to separate the two, he felt a sharp pain on his forehead and noticed that he was bleeding.
He said he then saw the first defendant holding a knife.
Bangura told the court that he rushed to call for help. Upon returning to the scene with his other brother, Milton John, he said he found Mumunie Bah injured and subsequently learned that he had died at the hospital.
He said he was taken to New Englandville Police Station, while Mumunie was rushed to Statelight Hospital along Kingharman Road.
Bangura maintained that both defendants were involved in the incident and specifically testified that it was the first defendant who stabbed Mumunie Bah.
He further told the court that he was admitted to hospital for one week because of the injury he sustained to his forehead.
During cross-examination by defence lawyer A. Maddie, Bangura was asked how long he had known the defendants. He replied that he had known them for approximately one year.
When asked whether he had any malice against the first defendant, Bangura replied, no.
It was put to him that he had not greeted the first defendant on the day of the incident, contrary to his testimony, but Bangura disagreed.
The witness was also asked whether the first defendant had ever slapped him. Bangura maintained that he had been slapped by the defendant.
When asked whether he witnessed the stabbing, Bangura replied, “It was before me; it happened.”
The defence further questioned him about which of the two defendants started the dispute. Bangura maintained that it was the first defendant who stabbed the deceased.
It was put to him that he did not see the first defendant stabbing Mumunie Bah, but Bangura disagreed and maintained that he witnessed the stabbing.
The defence also challenged the witness over an alleged inconsistency in his evidence, suggesting that he had previously told the court that he was not at the scene when Mumunie was stabbed and that he only learned about the incident from his brother.
Bangura denied making such a statement.
He was further asked who contacted Milton John after the incident. Bangura said he was the one who called him immediately after his brother was stabbed.
When asked how he knew that Mumunie Bah had died, Bangura said his brother died at the hospital.
It was finally put to the witness that his entire testimony was untrue. He rejected the suggestion and maintained that his evidence before the court was true.
The matter was adjourned to September 16, 2026, for further hearing, when the prosecution is expected to call its next witness, PW3.
- Maddie is representing both defendants, while the matter is being prosecuted by Police Constable 18235 Thoranka K.K.