June 2, 2021
By: Audrey John
High court Judge Justice Ivan Ansumana Sesay has on the 31st May, 2021 discharged four accused persons including Salieu Conteh, Santigie Bangura, Shaka Kamara, and Saidu Bangura for want of prosecution.
All four accused persons were arraigned before him for proper trial on one count charge of Murder which was later reduced to manslaughter. According to the indictment it was alleged that on the 28th of April 2019 in Freetown, the accused murdered Abu Sesay.
Defended by Lawyer Ibrahim Tommy ESQ the defendants were present, but the witnesses were not in court to ascertain what was alleged.
Addressing the bench as to the status of the matter, state counsel J.S Tucker also stated that they have considered the information of the pathologist and forensic expect, Dr. Simeon Owiss Koroma which according to him will address evidence as to the cause of the death of the deceased.
He said they have made several attempts to get the pathologist to come and tender his findings but to no avail. Responding to the submission of state counsel J.S Tucker, Justice Ivan Sesay said, with the absent of the death certificate the court will practically find it impossible to link the accused person to the allegation before him. The judge said in that circumstance the court has no option but to discharge the accused persons for lack evidence.