By: Audrey Raymonda John
Journalist Joseph Mendel Lamin, popularly known as “Manager Dust,” along with motorbike rider Morlia Kamara and driver Umaru Timbo, have appeared once again before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1 to face charges related to the murder of journalist Samuel Brima Mattia.
The accused are charged with Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Murder under the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, as amended by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act of 2021.
According to the prosecution, on January 15, 2025, at the Voice of Peace and Development (VOPAD) Radio Station in Kissi Town, Waterloo, the accused conspired with others to murder journalist Samuel Brima Mattia.
Detective Inspector Abubakarr Kargbo, a police officer from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) residing at Kingtom Police Barracks, testified before the court.
He stated that on January 17, 2025, while on duty with Inspector Paul A. Markew, they received a transferred case file related to the murder investigation. The file contained:
Statements from the complainant and witnesses, a voluntary caution statement from the first accused, several key exhibits, including: a Dell laptop identified as belonging to the deceased, a black backpack, a yellow plastic bucket containing a liquid suspected to be human blood, four metal weightlifting plates, two sticks, one electric cable, a large white rice bag and allegedly used to wrap the victim’s body
The suspected blood sample was sent to forensic analysts for examination, and the forensic report was tendered in court as Exhibit A.
On January 20, 2025, the first accused was escorted to CID headquarters by Inspector Conteh for further questioning.
The court has adjourned the case to March 17, 2025, for additional testimony and further legal proceedings.
