By: Audrey Raymonda John
The murder trial of Mohamed Jagitay continued before Justice Adrian Fisher at High Court No. 1, Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown. The accused is charged with murder, contrary to Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as repealed and replaced by Section 1(a) of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2022 (Act No. 6 of 2022).
According to the particulars of the offense, on July 28, 2023, in Freetown, the accused allegedly murdered Ibrahim Jagitay. When the charge was read and explained in court, no plea was taken from the accused.
State Prosecutor Musa Pious Sesay Jr. Esq led the third prosecution witness, DPC 15182 Lahai Stevens, a detective attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Waterloo Police Station, where he has served for twelve years.
DPC Stevens testified that on July 28, 2023, while on duty, he received a report from Ibrahim Kargbo, the headman of Kelly Farm, Waterloo, about an unidentified corpse discovered in the area. He, along with DPC 17987 Momoh D.K., Inspector A.J. Smith, and other officers, visited the crime scene.
At the scene, they found a male body with multiple wounds, a broken kitchen knife, and an empty white AirPods pouch. Photographs were taken by the Scene of Crime Officer, and the body was conveyed to the Waterloo Mortuary. Ibrahim Kargbo informed the police that the land where the body was found belonged to someone named Jakartay.
On July 29, 2023, DPC Stevens received a case file from the Calaba Town Police Station, which included a statement from the accused and one witness. He later obtained a statement from Ibrahim Kargbo as well.
On August 2, 2023, in the presence of DPC 17897 Momoh D.K., government pathologist Dr. Simeon Owiz Koroma conducted a postmortem examination. The cause of death certificate was produced and tendered in court as Exhibit B.
On August 3, 2023, DPC Stevens and DPC 13174 Kargbo M.M. interviewed the accused in Krio, recording his statement in English. The statement was read back and explained to the accused, who admitted its accuracy and affixed his right thumbprint. It was witnessed by DPC Kargbo and signed by Stevens. This statement was tendered in court as Exhibits C1–15.
During his statement, the accused provided an alibi, claiming his wounds were from an accident. The police followed up and obtained a statement from a woman operating a business at the alleged accident site. She confirmed knowing the accused and said she never witnessed such an accident in that area.
The police then contacted the medical doctor who treated the accused. The doctor reported that the accused visited him on July 28, 2023, around 3:30 PM, with his girlfriend, claiming to have been in an accident. However, the doctor expressed doubts about the nature of the injuries, though he treated the accused out of familiarity.
Police also traced the girlfriend, who confirmed the accused asked her to accompany him to the doctor on that day.
On August 12, 2025, the police conducted a second interview with the accused in Krio, which was again recorded in English. After reading and explaining the statement to him, the accused acknowledged its truth and correctness, and signed it with his thumbprint. The statement was also tendered in court.
The fourth prosecution witness, DPC 17987 Daniel Komba Momoh, attached to the Scientific Support Unit at Waterloo Police Station, testified that he responded to the murder report on July 28, 2023.
He confirmed the presence of a human corpse with injuries, as well as a stainless steel knife at the scene. He took photographs and later witnessed the postmortem examination conducted by Dr. Koroma.
All prosecution witnesses were cross-examined by Defense Counsel Muctarr Rashid Esq.
Justice Fisher denied bail for the accused and ordered that he be remanded at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to July 18, 2025 for further proceedings.