By: Audrey Raymonda John
Mother Kashopeh Smith and daughter Remi Smith were, on Monday, 31st October 2024, sent on remand by magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No2 over the alleged murder of Superintendent Arnold Adeyemi Coker.
The accused persons made a second appearance in court and were arraigned on four counts charges of murder contrary to section 1 of the Offences Against the Persons Act 1816as repealed and replaced by section 1 of the schedule of the abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021, Act No 6 of 2022, Perverting the course of justice contrary to law, Misprision of felony contrary to law and other related offense.
According to the indictments on count one, the accused, Kashopeh Smith, on Monday, 2nd September 2024, at No 37 Carr Street Hastings, Freetown, murdered superintendent Arnold Adeyemi Coker.
The police further alleged on count two that the first accused, Kashopeh Smith, on the same date and place well, knowing the circumstances leading to the murder of Superintendent Arnold Adeyemi Coker that occurred on Monday, 2nd September 2024, and thereafter fabricated evidence with intent to pervert the course of justice.
It was also alleged on counts three that the accused, Remi Smith, between 1st and 2nd September 2024 at the same address, knew well that her mother, Kashopeh Smith, had committed an offense of murder and unlawfully concealed the commission of the said felony.
Whiles counts four added that the accused, Remi Smith, well, knew the circumstances leading to the murder of Superintendent Arnold Adeyemi Coker that occurred on Monday, 2nd September 2024, and thereafter fabricated evidence with intent to pervert the course of justice.
No plea was taken when the charges were read and explained to the accused persons.
The lead prosecutor ASP Wellington led in prosecution witness number one, Christian Coker resided at No. 82 Mackomock Street, Hastings Freetown, a factory worker he knew the deceased, Mr. Arnold Adeyemi Coker as his uncle, and he recognized the accused persons as his Church members, he recall on the 2nd September 2024 something transpired the deceased left home very early in the morning at around 11:00 am he came back at 10:00 pm within five minutes he came out of his room and said he was going out again he left and went to Kosso Town area the witness said he went to bed and slept until morning hours without the deceased coming home in the morning hours.
He went to where the noise was coming from, and one Musu Kanu told him that his uncle, the deceased, had died, and that was what the noise was about. The witness said he went in the direction he was pointed to and found the deceased dead. He was covered with a bedspread. When he arrived from church, he was wearing a blue suit, which he changed to a green top and a pair of blue trousers. The witness said that he made a statement to the police.
The lead defense counsel, Claudius Campbell Cross, examined the witness.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura refused bail and sent the accused persons to the female correctional facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 6 November 2024.
