By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
John Kargbo an ex-Military Officer testified in a murder trial before Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay of the High Court no.1 in Freetown.
The Prosecution witness said he knew the deceased as his neighbor and they both lived in the same town and compound.
He identified the accused persons, the first accused he said is a delta officer at Berray junction, the second accused person is the deceased errand boy and the third accused resides at Berray junction.
On the 10th of January 2021, he said he was at home when the second accused met him and whispered to him that he had something bothering his mind that has to do with the deceased.
The witness said the second accused person said the deceased who was his business partner for a long time has removed him from the business and as such he wants to pay the deceased back for such a move.
The witness said the accused told him that he wants to organize men to attack the deceased at his residence and asked the witness to be a part of it.
He said the next day he met the deceased and told him to make peace with the accused and related to him the plans of the accused person to eliminate him, but the deceased told him that the accused would do such a thing.
He continued that on the 11th-12th January he saw the first accused, second accused and third accused persons on a bike, within hours later he saw some bike riders shouting that armed robbers attacked and killed the deceased ‘Speedo’.
He said he went to the station and saw the first accused the police officer Gibo coming into the station arranging his uniform.
The witness said he saw a gun in the hands of the first accused person but succeeded in taking away the gun after smelling fresh gun powder, which confirmed that it was recently used. He said he alerted other officers that the first accused was a prime suspect.
The matter was adjourned to the 25th July, 2022 for further cross examination by defense counsel for the accused persons.
Defense Counsels for accused persons are I.S.Y Kamara Esq for the first accused person, C.I Williams Esq for the second accused person, C.Tucker Esq for the third, fourth and fifth accused persons and J.S Tucker State Prosecutor.
