By: Audrey Raymonda John
In the ongoing case between the State and Abdul Kpaka, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has tendered the defendant’s mobile phone, which was earlier confiscated during police investigations. The defence has indicated its intention to rely on messages extracted from the device as part of its case.
The defendant is standing trial on a two-count indictment of murder and perverting the course of justice, contrary to law, in connection with the death of Sia Kamara on 15th August 2024. He is alleged to have caused her death.
During proceedings, defence counsel E.T. Koroma informed the court of plans to rely on digital communications retrieved from the defendant’s phone. He applied for the Judiciary’s IT Department to be subpoenaed to appear in court to assist in extracting and presenting WhatsApp and text messages exchanged between the defendant and the deceased, identified as Sia Fatu Kamara.
The defence further stated that it had served the prosecution with a notice of consent and intends to rely on the said electronic communications, stressing the need for proper legal procedures to be followed in handling the digital evidence.
Defence counsel Emmanuel Teddy Koroma requested an adjournment to allow sufficient time to prepare for the next stage of the proceedings.
The matter has been adjourned to 29th April for further hearing.