June 10, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
The thirty one accused persons are before Magistrate Marke Ngegba of magistrate court No 2 Pademba road on Preliminary Investigation for the alleged murder of the nephew of Paramount Chief Bai Koblo Queen II of Marampa Chiefdom and for setting ablaze his properties worth over eleven billion Leones. The Twenty Six accused persons were on the 7th June, 2021 committed to the High Court for trial.
It could be recalled that the riot erupted when a youth popularly known as Bulgur was arrested by the Police in Lunsar for incitement of hundreds of youth to storm the Police Station and burnt down the Chief’s house.
According to the police charge sheets, the accused persons are charged with fourteen counts of conspiracy to murder, murder contrary to law, malicious damage, larceny damaged, throwing missiles, riotous conducts and disorderly behaviors amongst others.
Representing the State Esq. Yusif Issac Sesay brought ten witnesses to testify against the accused persons who were residents of Lunsar in the Northern part of Sierra Leone. After these testimonies, Lawyers representing all the accused persons filed a no-case submission on behalf of their clients. However, the magistrate withdrew the file for ruling.
In his ruling the Magistrate said that the essence of the preliminary investigation or standard of proof is for the Court to prove a prima facie case which he said the prosecution was able to establish.
Based on the evidence before the Magistrate, he said all the accused persons have a case to answer at the High Court.
However, the magistrate discharged the 10th, 14th, 26th, 28th and 31st accused persons for murder charge.
The accused were however not exonerated on the count of conspiracy to commit murder and other charges. He said most if not all, testified against the accused persons who established that these accused persons entered the premise of PC Bai Koblo Queen II and vandalized his premise and set ablaze the garage.
In his ruling the Magistrate said the second prosecution witness testified that he saw the deceased when he was murdered. Also, the third prosecution witness said he saw the deceased after he was murdered.
The fourth accused person also said he saw the second accused person with stick but none of the witnesses mentioned the name of any of the accused persons hitting the deceased. At the end of the ruling, relatives and accused persons expressed themselves in tears while they were being handcuffed and taken to the Pademba road Prison awaiting trial at the High Court.
The thirty one accused persons were undergoing preliminary investigation before the magistrate of Magistrate Court No.2 in Freetown as police alleged that between the 29th and 30th April 2021 they vandalized the premise of the Paramount Chief Bai Koblo Queen II of Marampa Chiefdom and destroyed property worth over eleven billion Leones.
Representing the State was Esq. Yusif Issac Sesay while all accused persons were represented by Lawyers.