By: Audrey Raymonda John
46yrs old Ikubolaje Nicol the general manager made another appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on three count charges to wit Conspiracy to Murder, Contrary to Section 4 of the offences against the person Act, 1861, Murder and perverting the cause of justice Contrary to law.
According to the particulars of offence on diverse dates between15th to 16th October 2022 at Leicester village the western area in Freetown conspired with other persons unknown to murder Sinnah Kai Kargbo.
On count three at the same place and date knowing well circumstances leading to the death of Sinnah Kai Kargbo did on the 17thOctober 2022 and other days thereafter fabricated evidence with intent to pervert the cause of justice.
State prosecutor Aruna Jalloh Lead 8th Prosecution witness medical Doctor Mohammed Aly Bangura attached to Connaught and Shuman hospitals, said between the night of 16th to the 17th October 2022, he said he was on duty at Shuman hospital he recalled around 6am on 17th, a nurse named Augusta came to him and reported an emergency that a patient has been put at the ICU.
He narrated that he rushed there and started examination on the patient (heartbeat), he didn’t hear anything, a phone light to check the eyes and discovered that the eyes we’re dilated meaning there was no reaction of the eyes to the light and therefore no sign of life.
He tried cardiac massage and there was foaming from the mouth.
He took tissue and wiped it by which time he concluded the patient had lost her life.
He informed the nurses to take the corpse out of the unit.
After 2 minutes, he came back down stairs to check if they had taken the corpse to the morgue where he met it been loaded and then returned to his office.
He said he didn’t record the incident because there was nothing to do.
The witness was asked during cross examination by defense counsel Roland Wright to describe the symptoms of pulmonary resuscitation; the witness said he was not in court for that.
But he said he understood the concept of clumping. After some back and forth, he described pulmunary edema as an accumulation of water in the lungs as a result of cardiac failure, infection and more.
At this juncture, Magistrate Mark Ngegba was concerned that the defense counsel and the State prosecutor has to put their house in order after so many questions was imposed to the defense,the witness was unable to respond.
He adjourned the matter to the 23rd January 2023 for further hearing.