March 22, 2021
By: Audrey. R. John
The murder matter of five years old Khadija Madinatu Saccoh has concluded with both accused persons, Mariama Sajor Barrie and Ibrahim Bah walked out free just after the twelve men jury sworn to try them came out with a verdict of not guilty.
The two accused persons were sometimes last year arraigned before the then magistrate of Pademba Road court number two, Mark Ngegba for Preliminary Investigation on two count charges of murder contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
It was alleged by the police that both accused murdered the five years old victim at their Hill station residence. Late Khadija was in the care of first accused as sister of the deceased mother.
During the preliminaries the state called several witnesses including the former government pathologist and forensic expert doctor Simeon Owizz Koroma who in his findings to the court that the victim died of manual strangulation.
At the end of the Prosecution’s case, the defence team Alhaji Mustapha Kamara and Emmanuel Teddy Koroma Esq. made a no case submission on behalf of their client discrediting the medical report. The prosecution made a reply thereto and in his ruling Magistrate Mark Ngegba committed the matter to high court on a grounds that he is convinced that the Prosecution has adduced sufficient evidence against both accused persons.
After the Criminal call over, both accused persons were arraigned before Justice John Bosco Alieu at the High Court for proper trial.
Prosecuted by state counsel John Khalil Sesay, a twelve men jury was sworn and addressed by the former and defence counsels.
The prosecution docked thirteen witnesses who testified on oath based on what they knew about the alleged incident.
At the end of the Prosecution’s case, defense counsels Alhaji Mustapha Kamara and Emmanuel Teddy Koroma on Thursday 18th March 2021 made their final address on thw case.
In his summing up, the adjudicating judge, Justice John Bosco Alieu directed members of the Jurors to limit their finding and outcome of the matter strictly on the evidence led on oath before the court and not what is being said or published on social media.
Returning from their room, the twelve men jury after digesting the evidence led so far and the addresses made by the state and defence counsels pronounced a unanimous verdict of not guilty.
The trial Judge John Bosco Alieu acquitted and discharged the accused persons on the indictment of murder and conspiracy to commit murder accordingly.
It was a jubilating and sad moment particularly when the accused persons Mariama Sajor Barrie and Ibrahim Bah (mother & son) hugged themselves in the dock with tears streaming down their cheeks.