By: Audrey Raymonda John
Two accused persons, 18-year-old pupil Haja Massaquio and businessman Ibrahim Denis, have been committed to the High Court for trial on allegations of conspiracy to murder and murder.
The order was made by Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 after the prosecution presented its evidence against the accused persons.
The two are facing a two-count indictment comprising conspiracy to murder, contrary to Section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, and murder, contrary to Section 1 of the same Act, as repealed and replaced by relevant provisions of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act, 2022 (Act No. 6 of 2022).
According to the particulars of the first count, on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at Kamayama Pentegane New Site, off Regent Road, Lumley, Western Area, Freetown, the accused allegedly conspired with other persons unknown to commit a felony, namely murder.
The second count alleged that, on the same date and at the same location, the accused murdered Mariama Kamara.
The prosecution was led by Inspector Kadie M. Taylor, who called several witnesses to support the case.
The prosecution’s first witness, DPC 11686 Yayah Jabbie, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at Lumley Police Station, told the court that his duties included investigating criminal matters.
He testified that he knew the deceased, Mariama Kamara, as well as both accused persons.
According to the witness, on June 23, 2026, while he was on duty, Mariama Kamara went to the police station and made a report. He subsequently issued her a police medical request form, which she later returned after it had been endorsed.
DPC Jabbie further told the court that on June 24, 2026, the deceased returned to the police station with the endorsed medical request form. The document was produced and tendered in evidence.
The witness testified that on July 26, 2026, the police were informed of Mariama Kamara’s death.
He said that on July 28, 2026, a request was sent to Dr. Owiz Koroma to conduct an autopsy on the remains of the deceased. The autopsy request was produced and tendered in court.
DPC Jabbie further testified that on July 29, 2026, he and Sergeant 11640 Conteh witnessed the autopsy examination conducted on the deceased. He said a cause-of-death certificate was subsequently issued to the police.
The court also heard that on July 28 and August 9, 2026, DPC Jabbie, together with DPC 13164 Kanu A, obtained separate voluntary caution statements from the two accused persons.
According to the witness, the statements were made in Krio and recorded in English. At the conclusion of each statement, the contents were read over and explained to the respective accused persons, who affixed their right-hand thumbprints in the presence of the investigator.
The statements were subsequently produced and tendered in court as exhibits.
DPC Jabbie further testified that on August 13, 2026, the police received legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The advice was produced and tendered in evidence.
Following the DPP’s advice, the witness said that on August 14, 2026, he and DPC Kanu A. obtained separate charge statements from the two accused persons, using the same procedure adopted for their voluntary caution statements.
He told the court that the first accused was charged with conspiracy to murder and murder, while the second accused was charged with conspiracy to murder.
The charge statements were also produced and tendered in court.
Inspector Taylor subsequently informed the court that the prosecution had concluded its case.
DPC Jabbie was cross-examined by Daniel N. K. Turay, Esq.
In his ruling, Magistrate Jah said that, having heard the prosecution’s evidence and considered the statements tendered in court, he was satisfied that the accused persons had a case to answer.
The magistrate therefore committed the matter to the High Court for trial.
Both accused persons were subsequently remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown pending further proceedings.