December 7, 2021
By: Audrey John
Sixth prosecution witness (PW 6), Detective Inspector Mathew Samura attached to the Scientific Support Department at the Mena police station as Scene of Crime Officer (SOC) on Monday 6th December 202, testified in the ongoing murder matter of one Elizabeth Mande Judith Kanu, who allegedly killed her colleague, Sonia Mary Thomas at the University of Makeni.
The witness said some of his duties including visiting scene of crime, to examine the scene and search for evidence and he also said he took photography of the scene and to preserve exhibit.
He continued that he knew the deceased and also the accused person.
He narrated that on the 6th September 2021, when he was on duty at the said date 1700 hours, his colleague Detective Police Constable 4569 Conteh S.S told him that a case of an alleged murder was reported to the station by one Rev Father John Turay, adding that upon receipt of the information they later visited the scene of Crime.
The witness testified that on the 7th September 2021, himself and DPC 4569 Conteh S.S together with Rev Father Turay they went to Holy Spirit hospital Makama, Makeni to collect the remains of the deceased, he said upon arrival, the corpse of the deceased was handed over to them and they later conveyed it to Government hospital for postmortem.
He further narrated that on the same day they visited the scene of Crime at Fatima hostel campus, UNIMAK and at the scene he was directed to the area were the alleged incident took place where he took photography of the alleged scene. He added that on the same date the corpus of the deceased was later conveyed to Connaught mortuary in Freetown for postmortem.
“On the 8th September 2021, I, DPC 4569 Conteh S.S together with the relatives of the deceased witness the postmortem examination that was conducted on the remains of the deceased by the government pathologist, Dr. Simon Owizz Koroma and during the process I took photography of the scene” he said.
when the witness want to tender the pictures he took during the postmortem, Lawyer Jessie M. Jengo defensing the accused person objected to the tendering of the pictures taken during the postmortem because the witness did not bring the digital camera that he use to took the pictures.
In responding as to why he did not bring the digital camera, the witness said the digital camera he use to take the pictures has been used by another scene of crime officer as they only have one digital camera at the station.
However, Magistrate Kekura said it is procedural for the scene of crime officer to bring the digital camera he use, so he adjourned remanded the accused to the Female Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to Monday 13th December 2021, for the digital camera to be tender in court.
This was the ninth time the accused, Elizabeth Mande Judith Kanu, had appeared before the court on one count of murder contrary to law.
According to the Police charge sheet, it was alleged that the accused on Monday 6th September, 2021, murdered Sonia Mary Thomas at Fatima Hostel, UNIMAK Campus in Makeni.