By Elizabeth Kamara
Isheaml Conteh appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown, facing charges related to murder.
The accused is standing trial on one count, as per section 1 of the Offenses Against the Person Act 1861, which has been replaced by section (1)(a) of the Abolition of Death Penalty Act 6 of 2022.
The particulars of the offense state that on the 27th to the 28th of December 2023, at Upper George Brooke Dwazark, Freetown, the accused murdered one Ishmael Morobia.
Police prosecutor Inspector Sallue Tap presented the first prosecution witness, Deema Kamara, who identified herself as a teacher. She testified that on the last adjourned date, after searching for the deceased and being unable to find him, she returned home to find a crowd at her compound.
She said she learned about the death of Ishmael Morobia from a person named Jene.
Subsequently, on the 29th of December, she contacted the investigating officer at New England Village and made a statement about the disappearance of the deceased. She informed the officer that they had discovered the dead body.
On the 3rd of January, 2024, the investigating officer called her to go to the hospital to identify the deceased for the postmortem process. After the identification, the results were handed over to her and were tendered in court as part of the evidence.
She concluded by stating that the deceased was handed over to her, and she was informed by the investigating officer that the accused person had been arrested.
Magistrate Sahr Kekura denied bail, remanding the accused person to the Male Correctional Center in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to the 29th of February, 2024.
