Six Legal Aid Counsels comprising Cecilia Tucker, Sonia Bobanie Brown, Nicky Spencer-Coker, Mamako Kallon, Morrison Karimu and Ibrahim Bangura have provided legal representation to all the 46 accused persons whose cases were heard in the September 2020 Criminal Call Over session in Freetown.
The three-day session started on September 15, 2020. The Honourable Chief Justice, Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards presided over the proceedings and later handed over to Justice Alusine Sesay JSC on September 16 who took over to the end of the session on September 17.
Two of the accused persons represented were granted bail while six were sentenced to various prison terms. Thirty-eight (38) cases were adjourned. Twelve accused persons were charged with Robbery with Aggravation, four with Murder, one Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, five Wounding with Intent, five Shop Breaking and Larceny, one Burglary, among others.
The Criminal Call Over is a statutory session held in September, November, January and May where criminal cases committed to the High Court are called by the Chief Justice or any senior judge for trial in the High Court.
The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles has lauded the Legal Aid Counsels for rising up to the challenge of providing legal representation to all the accused persons in the just concluded September 2020 Criminal Call Over session in Freetown and the ongoing Special Criminal Session around the country. “We are proud of being the legal aid organization that continues to carry the criminal calendar in the country,” Ms. Carlton-Hanciles said.
By Isabella Cassell
25/09/2020. ISSUE NO: 7917