Sierra Leone News: Police Witness Testifies in Murder Trial
By Isabella Cassell
The Formal Witness, Detective Police Constable 13535 Mohamed Ali Mansaray, has on Tuesday July 2, 2019 testified before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie in the ongoing alleged murder trial involving eleven clique members.
The clique members were arraigned in court on three count charges — murder contrary to law and two counts of conspiracy.
The accused are Alhaji Foday Sonnie, Alusine Logan, Edward Brima Tengbeh, Alhaji Jalloh, Gibrilla Kamara, Ibrahim Kamara, Saidu Jalloh, Issa Conteh, Abdul Kamara, Abubakarr Sesay and Ahmed Koroma.
According to the charge sheet, the accused persons on Sunday December 30, 2018 at Grafton murdered Osman Bangura and being members of Grafton Hood clique conspired together and with other persons unknown to commit grievous bodily harm.
The witness said he is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Kissy Police Station. He recognized the accused Alhaji Foday Sonnie, Ibrahim Kamara, Alimamy Sesay, Alusine Logan, Alhaji Jalloh, Edward Brima Tengbeh and Ahmed Koroma. He said he also knows the complainant in the matter Sorie Kanu.
He recalled Sunday December 30, 2018 while he was on duty and a report of murder was made by the complainant and the matter assigned to him for further investigation.
He explained that on receipt of the report, a team of Police Officers from Jui Police Post and Kissy Police Station immediately went to the scene of the crime and the accused were arrested and taken to the station, adding that on that same day, the remains of the deceased (Osman Bangura) were conveyed to the Connaught Hospital mortuary for post mortem examination.
He said on that same date statements were obtained from the complainant and other relatives of the deceased. “On December 31, 2018 in the presence of Detective Inspector Ganda S. statements were obtained from Alhaji Foday Sonnie and Alusine Logan by himself and Detective Inspector Ganda,” he said.
He said on that same date, a team of officers, including the crime officer, went to Model Primary school and they were informed that some of the accused, including Ibrahim Kamara had made a report of assault against the deceased, Osman Kamara.
Mansaray said that portion of the dairy records was photocopied and he wished to tender it in court. It was then registered and tendered in court as exhibit F1–3.
On January 3, 2019 he said himself, DPC 13862 Sankoh S., with some relatives of the deceased witnessed the autopsy examination on the remains of the deceased, conducted by Medical Pathologists, Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma.
They took photographs of the examination and at the end, a certificate of the cause of death was issued to them.
He said the matter was then transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department, Police Headquarters for further investigations.
The matter was adjourned to Wednesday July 10, 2019.
