A female high court judge in Freetown, Justice Manuela Harding has explained how she was beaten up, abused and humiliated by a bike rider Patrick Gospel Koroma at Hill Station in December 2021.
An allegation the accused Patrick pleaded guilty to before Magistrate Isata Sellu Tucker of Pademba Road Court No.3 for which he was remanded in prison.
The accused Patrick Gospel Koroma in his black T-shirt was weeping in the duck.
One could see the pain and humiliation in the eyes of Justice Manuela Harding as she explained her ordeal in court.
Patrick Gospel Koroma is charged with three counts of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, Public Insult and Provocation and Disorderly Behaviour.
The court room was jam parked with lawyers as it was a case of the bar versus the accused.
Patrick Gospel Koroma who was crying tears in duck pleaded guilty to all three counts charge levied against him and begged for mercy.
He admitted that indeed he insulted the Judge by using abusive and provocative invectives on her person and during which the process, slapped Justice Harding on her face on Friday, December 17, 2021 in Freetown.
After Patrick had assaulted and abused the Judge, he absconded for months but was later apprehended in February 2022 by Police at the Hill Top Police Station (Aecon) and charged to court on Friday, February 25, 2022.
Justice Harding almost cried while telling the Magistrate the brief fact of the case.
She was driving home on the night of December 17, 2021, when a vehicle blocked the right path of the road and she automatically used the left path since the driver of the said vehicle was not around. She was admonishing a coal seller about the blockage when the accused and other bike riders started insulting her but when her security guard came down and told them to stop, they abused him too.
The accused hit the back of her vehicle several times whiles abusing her. When she came down from her vehicle to caution the accused and his co-riders to stop their nonchalant behaviour, the accused confronted her and slapped her on her face.
After the incident, the community people who should came to her rescue, conspired with the accused and the other bike riders to leave the scene.
Since then, the councilors of the ward and residents have been interfering with the matter, wanting to pervert the course of Justice.
Justice Harding said when she was assaulted and abused, no one came to her rescue even though they knew she is a woman.
However, Magistrate Isata Sellu Tucker has given firm warning to the said councilor and others not to go to Justice Manuela Harding’s house and to allow her enjoys the peace she deserves.
According to her, she will do justice in the matter and delivers a sentence required by law without bias or prejudice to the matter. He remanded Patrick Koroma and adjourned the matter for verdict.
By Alimatu Jalloh