By: Audrey Raymonda John
Forty-six-year-old Kabba Dumbuya, a Motor Mechanic and businessman, made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba road court No.2 in Freetown on two counts charges, namely Murder and Incitement, contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the particulars of the offense, on diverse dates between 13th to 14th October 2023 at Finnah Drive off Benguema Road, Waterloo, in the Western Rural Area of Freetown, Kabba Dumbuya allegedly murdered Samuel Turay. On counts two, on the above date and place, the accused person is accused of unlawfully conducting himself in a violent manner, thereby creating a scene that led to the unlawful killing of his younger brother, Samuel Turay.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused person, no plea was taken.
Prosecution witness number four, Sergeant 8826 Sulaisy Mukeh Konneh, attached to the Homicide Units of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters Pademba Road, Freetown, testified that he recognized the accused person in the dock while on duty on the 6th November 2023.
He received a transfer case of inquiry files from Waterloo Police Station, indicating the murder of Samuel Turay off Finnah Drive, off Benguema Road, Waterloo. The file contained statements from the complainant and her witnesses, interview caution statement of the accused person, three endorsed police medical request forms, and the cause of death certificate for the deceased. Since then, these documents were in the custody of the police, and all documents were produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
During the investigation, a police team headed by Inspector Tamba Kassibama at Finnah Drive off Benguema Road, Waterloo, went to the scene of the crime on the 11th December 2023. He obtained a charged statement from the accused person, and the witness said the accused was cautioned and questioned in Krio language, which was recorded in English. The said statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
Prosecution witness number five, Sia Aruna, a businesswoman, recognized Prosecution witness number one (PW1), the deceased Samuel Turay, and the accused person as her neighbor. She recalled an incident between 13th to 14th October 2023 when she visited her friend at Finnah Drive off Benguema Road, Waterloo. She witnessed an argument between PW1 and the accused person. The deceased, Samuel Turay, entered the house and came out with his younger brother Medo. The witness further stated that a lady named Baby Fair, the sister of the accused person, took hot water and wanted to throw it at Medo. The deceased rushed to grab his younger brother, but the accused person took sticks and hit Samuel Turay on his head. He dropped down, and the big brother of the accused person came out to rescue his brother but was also hit by a relative of the accused person. The witness said she took Samuel Turay to Waterloo police station, where the police issued a medical request form. She then took Samuel Turay to Connaught Hospital, and the following morning, she received information that Samuel Turay had passed away.
The witness was cross-examined by defense counsel J. Kamara.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura refused bail and sent the accused person to the male facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to the 5th February 2024.
