January 21, 2022
By Audrey John
Foday Alimamy Yillah, OSD Police personnel that was allegedly involved in the Hasting Murder saga was on Thursday 20th January 2022 committed to the high court for further trial by Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road court No 1. It was alleged by the police that the accused allegedly shot the deceased Alpha Kamara alias ‘Wan Dada’.
Magistrate Kekura in his ruling during committal stated that the accused was brought to court on one count charge of murder contrary to law and that the prosecution in a bid to prove their case against the accused person called four witnesses including former witnesses and exhibit clerk that were cross examined by defense counsel for the accused lawyer Campbell.
“After the prosecution have closed it case the defense counsel intimated the court that he relied on the entirety of the evidence adduced before the court and that my duty at this stage is to examined the evidence adduced before this court to see whether the prosecution has adduced sufficient evidence against the accused to stand further trial at the high court pursuant to section 116 of the CPA 1965″, he noted.
But further said if the prosecution failed to establish sufficient evidence against the accused will be discharged pursuant to section 118 of the CPA 1965. “Looking at the evidence before this court including statement of the accused, both prosecution witness one and two corroborated each other statement that it was the accused that shot the deceased, the accused also implicated himself in his statement made to the police that himself and the deceased were struggling over the riffle when the deceased pulled the trigger and a shot was released from his riffle, and further stated that another second shot was released from his gun”, he stated.
In further ruling said in perusing exhibit 3 which is the cause of death certificate clearly states that the deceased sustain gunshot wound on his chest. ” In view of the corroborative evidence of PW 1&4, the statement of the accused made to the police and cause of death certificate, it has convince me that the prosecutor has adduced sufficient evidence against the accused to stand trial at the high court and I therefore commit him to the high court for further trial”, he ruled. It could be recalled that the accused Foday Alimamy Yillah was arraigned during preliminary investigation on one count of murder contrary to law.
According to the particulars of offence on Thursday 15th April 2021 at Hastings Village the western area in Freetown murdered Alpha Kamara “alias Wan Dada.”