By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
Alhaji Ibrahim Lahai, a detective police constable 13529 Lahai AI testified before Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay of the High Court no.2 in Freetown on 3 counts charge of Murder, being found in possession of small arms without license and unlawful concealment of arms.
The Prosecution Witness Alhaji Ibrahim Lahai a detective constable 13529 Lahai AI attached to the Criminal Investigations Department Motema said he recognized the accused person in the dock and knows the deceased Lans Copral Saidu in regards to the trial.
He said on the 21st December 2020 at 12:30 hours he was on duty at the CID office when the crime officer he said, instructed him to join a team of police officers and Military Personnel to visit the scene of crime Masabendu Junction.
Mr. Alhaji said it was dark on arrival at the scene of crime with the use of torchlight himself and the team of police officers and Military Personnel saw a black cold cap closer to the deceased, a pair of slippers and a torch.
He went on that during this time a member of Local Police Partnership Board named Komba Haque identified the black cold cap as the property of the accused person Miniru Lebbie.
Upon receiving this information, he said they rushed over to the deceased house together with the Military Personnel and the Local Police Partnership Board Mr. Komba who identified the accused person.
Upon arrival, the prosecution witness said they met his wife who informed them her husband was yet to return home, as she said he was out the whole night.
He continued that they discovered steam bush meat in the pot whilst speaking with her and this led them to do a thorough search and found a damaged shot gun.
Sia Lebbie, the wife of the accused, he said was arrested along with 35 others and taken to the Station for further Investigations.
Mr. Alhaji continued that at 10: am in the morning, himself and the scene of crime office (SOCO) DPC11646 Conteh M revisited the scene of crime and took photographs before returning back to the station to obtain statements from each suspects.
Prosecution Witness said he obtained statements from the suspects and received information from another member of the Local Police Partnership Board Mr. Kassibama that the hunter who escaped from Masabendu Junction was seen at Sandom Chiefdom.
Upon this information he said, the team of officers including Military Personnel left for the said village and on arrival the accused was handed over by the Local Police Partnership Board member Mr. Kassibama and later brought to the Motema Police Station for investigations.
He concluded his testimony that a Contemporaneous statements was obtained from the accused person which the Prosecution read in court.
2 short guns were identified by the Prosecution Witness and were marked as Exhibit Z1 and 2.
State Prosecutor Jessie Tucker Esq and Defense Counsel for the accused person is C. Tucker from Legal Aid Board.
Matter has been adjourned to the 4th August 2022.
