November 30, 2021
By: Audrey John
The investigating office on the murder matter between the State and Elizabeth Munde Judith Kanu, Detective Police Constable 4569 Saidu Tommy Conteh has narrated steps he took to investigate the matter.
The accused persons, Elizabeth Munde Judith Kanu is before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No 1 for Preliminary Investigation on a count of murder.
Led in evidence by Detective police Constable 4569 Saidu Tommy Conteh recognized the accused person, and said on the 6th of September 2021, he was on duty at Mena Police Station when Rev. Father Joseph Turay vice chancellor of UNIMAK arrived with Ramash Kamara, Kaindeh sesay and Antonet Isatu Kamara to make a report on the death of Sonia Mary Thomas.
After receiving the information, he asked the Rev. Father about the accused and told him she was at her hostel. The witness said he went with Rev. Father Turay and others to the hostel where he arrested and took her to the station.
Explaining further, the witness said on the 7th of September 2021, himself, the Scene of crime office, detective Mathew Samura and Rev. Father Joseph Turay went to Holy Spirit hospital where the corpse of Sonia Mary Thomas was lying.
He said the corpse was conveyed to the regional government hospital at Makeni for post mortem, and later went to the accused campus to visit the scene of crim.
The witness said at the crime scene, photographs were taken and on that same date statements were obtained from complainant and witnesses. He said a request was written and sent to the head of the scientific support unit at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters for a post mortem to be conducted on the remains of the deceased. The witness told the court that the remains of Sonia Mary Thomas were conveyed to Connaught Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.
In continuation of his examination in chief, the witness said on the 8th of September, a post mortem examination was conducted on the remains by the government consultant pathologist, Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma in the presence of the police and relatives of the deceased.
During the Post mortem examination, photographs were taken by the crime scene officer after which original copy of the cause of death was given to the relative and photocopy to the police.
Prosecuting counsel OV Robin Mason was about to be tender when defense counsel J.M Jengo objected saying he did not laid the proper foundation to do same. Prosecuting Counsel O.V Robin Mason rises to challenge the objection but was overruled by the Bench.
Leading his witness further, prosecuting counsel O.V Robin Mason showed the cause of death certificate to the witness which he identified as exhibit C.
The witness said on the 10th of September, voluntary statement was obtained from the accused. He produced and tendered the statement of the accused to form part of the prosecution’s case.
The witness said the matter was transferred to the Homicide Unit for further Investigations.
Testing the evidence in cross examination by defense counsel JM Jengo, the witness in a witness put to him confirmed that a request form was sent for the autopsy to be conducted and that request has been in his custody.
The witness further responded that the certificate was prepared based on the investigation conducted by the police.
In another question put to him, he said during Investigation, the accused denied the allegation.
In conclusion of cross examination, Magistrate Sahr Kekura adjourned the matter to Monday 6th of December for the next witness to testify.