By Fatima Kpaka
Muctar Kamara, an electrician, has on Friday, June 7, 2024, testified before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road court No1 in the alleged murder of James Conteh involving Hassan Kamara and five others.
The accused persons Hassan Kamara, Fatmata Turay, Brima Kamara, Brima Tarawalie, Abubakar Kamara Samuel Turay were charged with two counts of conspiracy to murder contrary to section 4 of The Offences against the Person Act ,1861, and murder contrary to section 1 of The Offences Against the person Act 1861, as repealed and replaced by Section 1 (a) to the Schedule of the Abolition of the Death penalty Act 2021 Act No.6 of 2022
According to the particulars of the offence on count one, the accused persons on Friday, March 1,2024, at Ascension Town Cemetery in Freetown conspired with other persons unknown to commit murder.
While on count two, the accused persons on the same date and place murdered James Conteh alias James Okeke.
The 3rd prosecution witness Muctar Kamara led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of police Ibrahim S Mansaray, said he is an electrician and recognized the 1st,3rd,4th and 5th accused person as his close friends.
The second accused, he said, is his aunt, adding that he also knew James Conteh, now deceased.
The witness told the court that on March 1, 2024 at around 7pm he heard some ladies shouting that ‘they have killed someone’ at the entrance of the cemetery main gate along Congo Town.
Upon receipt of that information, he said he went to the cemetery to know the James Conteh that was killed and on his arrival, he saw the deceased lying down on the ground dead with cement and iron rods on his face with his body covered with blood.
The witness said he took one of the slabs from the deceased face to identify him well and he confirmed that it was his cousin, adding that he immediately went home to call his aunt and he later returned to the cemetery.
while at the cemetery, he said someone confronted him saying that this is how to kill a thief and during the process his aunt showed up while the 1st,3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th accused persons were around the cemetery.
He said the matter was reported at the Adelaide Street police station and statement was later obtained from him.
The witness was cross-examined by lawyer Chernor Kamara and Kofi Esq
Meanwhile, Magistrate Kekura refused bail and sent all accused persons to the male and female correctional facility in Freetown while the matter was adjourned to June 13, 2024.