Sierra Leone News: Murder Trial Deferred as Former Mayor is Reportedly Sick

By Isabella Cassell

The matter involving the former Mayor of Freetown Herbert George Williams and former Public Relations Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakarr Daramy has been adjourned to November 1, 2019, due to ill health of one of the accused person (former mayor).

The duo are being preliminarily investigated by Magistrate Marke Ngegba of Pademba Road Court №2, on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

It is alleged that both accused persons on Saturday March 31, 2018, at Lumley Roundabout in Freetown murdered a journalist Ibrahim Samura, and on the same date and place conspired with other persons unknown to commit grievous bodily harm on the said deceased.

Earlier on before the matter was stood down, Lawyer Warrah Serry Kamal submitted that the State Counsel A. Fisher does not treat the case with the seriousness it deserves because he came to court late and failed to present witnesses. She said that such tactics was an attempt to stall the matter to delay justice.

However, after the resumption of the matter, the Leading Defense Counsel Melron C. Nicol-Wilson made an application for the matter to be adjourned to a very short period of time in view of the fact that one of the accused is seriously ill.

He added that the accused needs to see a doctor urgently, and in view of that the defense seeks an adjournment for medical attention to be granted to their client.