By: Audrey Raymonda John
A police officer has testified before Justice Mohamed Bawoh of High Court No. 2 in Freetown in the ongoing murder trial of 40-year-old Abdul Bangura, who is accused of killing Ibrahim Sorie Kamara.
The accused, Abdul Bangura, is standing trial on one count of murder, contrary to Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as repealed and replaced by Section 1(a) of the Schedule of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2022 (Act No. 6 of 2022).
According to the particulars of offence, Abdul Bangura allegedly murdered Ibrahim Sorie Kamara on 3rd February 2025.
Testifying in court, Prosecution Witness DPC 17822 Abdul Rahman Kargbo, a police officer attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Grafton Division, said he knows the accused in connection with the matter.
Led in evidence by State Prosecutor A.B.N. Taylor Kamara, the witness explained that on Monday, 3rd February 2025, both the accused and the deceased were arrested by a team of police officers from the Jui Police Division and later brought to the Grafton Division.
He stated that when the deceased arrived at the station, he had sustained injuries on his left arm, which were allegedly inflicted by the accused. The witness added that a police medical form was issued to the deceased for treatment, while the accused was detained.
Kargbo further testified that in the early hours of the following morning, the father of the accused visited the police station and reported that his son and the deceased had been involved in a confrontation, after which the deceased later died.
Following the report, the witness said he and another police officer proceeded to Connaught Hospital on 19th February 2025 for a post-mortem examination. A medical certificate confirming the cause of death was issued and later produced and tendered in court as evidence.
The witness added that on 20th February 2025, the accused was cautioned and questioned by the police. A statement obtained from the accused was produced and tendered as part of the court records.
He also stated that on 25th February 2025, a progress report on the matter was prepared and forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
According to the witness, on Tuesday, 11th March 2025, he and DPC 17161 Conteh obtained a voluntary charge statement from the accused, which was also produced and tendered in court as evidence.
During cross-examination by defence counsel C. Taylor Young, the witness told the court that the accused admitted to killing the deceased.
At the end of the proceedings, the prosecution applied for a new date to present additional witnesses. Justice Bawoh subsequently adjourned the matter to 17th March 2026 for further hearing.
The matter is being prosecuted by A.B.N. Taylor Kamara, while C. Taylor Young represents the accused.