By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-five-year-old Santigie Kamara, an OSD officer, appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown, facing a charge of murder contrary to Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as repealed and replaced by Section 1 (a) in the Schedule of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021 (Act No. 6 of 2022).
According to the particulars of the offence, on 19th January 2025, at 555 Lorry Park, Waterloo, in the Western Rural Area of Freetown, Kamara allegedly murdered Francis Amara Kanneh.
When the charge was read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken.
Sergeant 9939 Mohamed Lahai led the prosecution’s second witness, Maseray Nallah, a businesswoman, who testified that she recognized the accused as a family friend. She also knew the deceased, Francis Amara Kanneh, as a family friend. Nallah explained that the accused and the deceased were brothers. On 19th January 2025, she was at her shop when the accused arrived, while the deceased was already inside her shop. The accused asked for an energy drink, which Nallah provided, and she asked for payment. The accused told her he would return with the money. When he came back, he met his brother, the deceased, and informed him that he had come for him. Nallah said that the accused was fully dressed in his OSD uniform.
The witness further stated that she heard the sound of a gunshot, and upon looking, she saw the accused shoot his brother three times. Blood began oozing from the deceased. Nallah shouted for help, and people came out during which the deceased’s sister took his body to Basa Town. CID officers later arrived at her shop to obtain her statement. The officers then went to Kankely Cemetery, where the deceased was laid to rest.
The witness was cross-examined by W.C. Oluba.
Magistrate Kekura refused bail for the accused, sending him to the male correctional facility in Freetown due to the seriousness of the charge. The matter was adjourned to 20th March 2025.
