By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Magistrate Court No.1 in Freetown has remanded a driver, Edward Gray 37, at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown for allegedly killing Ann Marifudia Mansaray on 2Oth September 2022 at No. 22b Old Railway Line, Brima Lane in Wellington, Freetown.
Edward Gray appeared before the court on a count of manslaughter contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
It was alleged by the police that the accused, on 20th November 2022 at the aforesaid place in Freetown, killed Ann Marifudia Mansaray.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Osman M. Bangura former prosecution witness (PW) 2, Detective Police Constable 18001 S.M attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters on Pademba Road in Freetown, he told the court that he recognized the accused and could recall 20th Tuesday September 2023.
Mr Sandi continued that he was on duty at the abovementioned unit the CID headquarters on Pademba Road in Freetown, when the accused arrived at the said unit and reported a case of manslaughter, disclosing that upon receipt of the information, a team of detective police officers headed by the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) Kanu I, left for the Crime Scene Brima Lane in Wellington, Freetown.
He said upon their arrival, he saw the deceased lying on bed breathless and that photographs were taken by the SOCO.
Mr Sandi told the court that on the same date, he obtained a statement from the deceased’s relative, whose name was not disclosed, adding that the corpse was convoyed to the Connaught Hospital for autopsy examination.
On 20th September 2022, the witness went on that he and Detective Police Constable (DCP) 1447 Kanu A.S, obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused, which he admitted to be true and correct by affixing his right thumbprint witnessed by Detective Police Constable 1447 Kanu A.S.
The accused’s voluntary caution statement was produced and tendered to form part of the court’s record.
‘The investigation was suspended for want of evidence,’ he told the court.
The witness disclosed that in the presence of the deceased’s relative whose name was not mentioned, the government pathologist Dr Oswizz Koroma conducted postmortem on the remains of Ann Marifudai Mansaray, noting that the cause of death certificate was handed over to him, which was produced and tendered in evidence.
Mr Sandi noted that on 14th November 2022, he and DPC Kanu A.S charged the accused with manslaughter contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone. During cross examination Defence Counsel, Isaac David Banbatude John suggested to the witness that the accused went to the police station as a complainant, to which he responded in the affirmative.
Lawyer John put it to the witness that the accused went to the station to report the death of Ann Marifudia Mansaray to which he responded in the affirmative.
At this juncture, Mr John sought for adjournment pleading with the bench to make the accused’s voluntary caution statement to him, application which was granted.For Magistrate Kekura, the accused was denied bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 28th February 2023 for further cross examination.