By: Audrey Raymonda John
Esther Lavallie, a waitress, made another appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of the Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on two counts: Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, and Malicious Damage contrary to Section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Thursday, 17th April 2025, at Freetown Road, Lumley, in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused allegedly assaulted Aminata Kpaka, thereby causing her actual bodily harm.
The second count states that on the same date and at the same location, the defendant maliciously damaged one black Samsung mobile phone valued at Thirteen Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy-Seven Leones (Le 13,477), the property of Aminata Kpaka.
When the charges were read and explained to her, the accused pleaded not guilty.
Detective Police Constable (DPC) 18235 Thoronka K.K led Prosecution Witness No. 4, DPC 21685 John Johnson B. Tucker, who is attached to the Exhibit Office at the Lumley Police Station. He explained that his duties include keeping all exhibits brought to the station, registering them, and tendering them in court when required.
He recalled that on 6th May 2025, while on duty, DPC 16998 Kargbo A. brought and handed over to him one old damaged Samsung Galaxy Android phone as an exhibit related to this matter. He registered the exhibit in the court exhibit book under serial number 23/2025. The phone was produced and tendered in court and was marked as Exhibit F.
The witness was later cross-examined by M. L. Tarawalie Esq.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Fornah adjourned the matter to 8th December 2025. Bail for the defendant continues.