October 14, 2021
By Audrey John
The investigator in the alleged murder matter between the inspector General of police and Abdul Lamine Kamara, detective Inspector Brima Amara Munu has narrated steps he undertook to further investigate the murder matter.
The accused Abdul Lamine Kamara is before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Road Court No 2 for Preliminary Investigation for allegedly murdering Abdul Slowe at Tokeh.
Led in evidence by Inspection AT Bangura, the witness detective Inspector Brima Amara Munu recognized the accused Abdul Lamine Kamara in the dock.
He said on the 24th August 2021 he was on duty at the Adonkia police station when he received a case, an enquiry file from Tokeh police post for the offense of murder.
He said on that same date, together with the crime officer they went to Tokeh police post where the incident took place and the crime scene officer took photos of the scene with his mobile phone.
The witness said before they arrive at the scene the corpse had already been taken to Connaught hospital mortuary for post mortem. He said on the same day, relatives of the deceased arrested and brought the accused to Adonkia police station.
On the 25th August 2021, DPC 3269 Lamin A assisted him to interview the accused. He said during the course of the investigation they sent a request to the pathologist Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma to perform autopsy on the remains of the deceased which was done on the 1st of September 2021.
He said upon completion, the pathologist issued out a certificate of the cause of death.
The prosecution was about to tender the death certificate of the deceased when defense counsel MB Koroma objected saying the police did not have right to tender same. Defense counsel said that document emanated from an expert who he will be expected to be cross examined.
The prosecutor inspector AT Bangura applied under section 70 of the Criminal procedure Act for the death certificate to be tendered in respect of the matter.
Urging further, defense counsel said if the document is tendered he will not have the chance to cross examine it.
The objection of defense counsel was overruled by the Bench and the document was tendered to back up the prosecution’s case.
Testing the evidence in cross examination by defense counsel MB Koroma, the police witness said he interviewed four witnesses in respect of the case.
He confirmed that if he is shown those statements he will be able to recognize them.
Touching on the pathologist report, the witness in a question put to him by defense counsel said by reason of his occupation, he is not in the position to explain about the cause of death therein.
At that stage, defense counsel MB Koroma sought the Bench leave for an adjourned date for further cross examination.
Magistrate Mark Ngegba close cross examination for the witness and adjourned the matter to the 19th of October 2021.