By: Audrey Raymonda John
47 years old Abu Bakarr Yillah a police officer attached to the Operations Division Wing Kambia police station was on Thursday 26th August 2024 sent to prison by Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No2 for the alleged murder of Fasineh Bangura.
The accused made his first appearance in court and was arraigned on one count of Murder contrary to section 1 of the offences against the person act 1861 as repealed and replace by section 1(a) of the schedule of the Abolition of the death penalty act 2021, Act No 6 of 2022.
According to the indictments, the accused Abu Bakarr Yillah on Wednesday 13th July 2022, at Yana Village, in the Tambakha Yombagie Chiefdom, in the Karene Judicial district in the Northwest region murdered Fasineh Bangura.
When the charge was read and explained to the accused no plea was taken.
Deputy Superintendent of police Sorie Conteh led in prosecution witness number one Mohamed Lamin Kamara a public servant working at NASSIT said he knows Fasineh Bangura now deceased as his cousin.
He came to know the accused person in this matter and he recalled that on the 13th July 2024 on the above date something transpired between the deceased and the accused person.
There was a Paramount chieftaincy election in their area, his home town produced a candidate and another person was declared the winner of the election.
The results were challenged in court, on the above date of the incident a combined team of military and police personnel went to youna town Tambaka Chiefdom and stated beating and arresting people.
He further stated that they broke down some houses and fired live ammunitions, the deceased ran and entered into his room together with one Foday Kamara, the witness said police officers broke the door of the deceased and took him out of his room they were loaded into a vehicle.
While they were sitting in the car the accused arrived and shot the deceased on his head from his back the witness said he was called and informed about the accident while he was in Freetown.
He then ran to the Criminal Investigation Department CID headquarters Pademba Road Freetown and reported the matter the witness said a team of Investigators visited the town and obtained statement from various witnesses.
The witness said he went to Makeni where the deceased was transferred he was able to identify his corpse.
The witness said he witnessed the postmortem examination which was conducted on the corpse and the deceased corpse was handed over to him, he conveyed it to Freetown at the Connaught mortuary.
The witness said after the postmortem examination the report was handed over to him the postmortem report was produce and tendered in court for identification marked as exhibit Z, he later made statement to the police at the CID headquarters.
The witness was cross examined by C Kamara Esq
Meanwhile, Magistrate Kekura refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional facility in Freetown whiles the matter was adjourned to the 2nd September 2024.
