Sierra Leone: Four accused persons in murder case sent back to prison

Four accused persons, Ishmael Koroma, Issa Alhaji Mansaray, Ernest Numeh Conteh and Lamin Tarawally were sent back to prison on Monday August 17, 2020  by Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Court No.1 on Pademba Road in Freetown after defense counsel cross-examined them in respect of the killing  of Kadiatu Yeamie Kargbo.

The police allege that the accused persons on Sunday 8th March 8, 2020, at Kamagbemgeh Road, in the Biriwa Chiefdom, in the Bombali District unlawfully murdered Kadiatu Yeamie Kargbo.

The accused persons, Ishmael Koroma, Issa Alhaji Mansaray, Ernest Numeh Conteh and Lamin Tarawally faced two counts of conspiracy to murder and murder contrary to law.

During the cross-examination of the police witness Mathew Vangawo, attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Defense counsel for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th accused persons, lawyer James Momodu Fornah Sesay revealed that a summary report from the police vindicated his clients.  He asked the witness if the said summary report was a progressive or abstract report, but the police witness responded that the said report which was attached to the court file was the final report.

Police prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ibrahim Sheik Mansaray expressed shock over the utterance of the witness, for he was off the strongest conviction that the said summary report was an abstract of the investigation conducted so far.

However, the prosecuting counsel is expected to bring more witnesses to testify in court.

 Meanwhile, Magistrate Hannah Bonnie adjourned the matter to August 26, 2020.

By Isabella Cassell

19/8/2020. ISSUE NO: 7890