By Mohamed J Kargbo
James Momodu Sesay, the prosecuting counsel,led Emmanuel Banya of the Gateway Evangelistic Ministry Church, which was vandalised by some accused persons.
To complete his testimony, the witness presented and tendered the video evidences contained in flash drive.
The eighth accused persons, including Alpha Bangura, Parteh Jalloh, Dauda Jalloh, Santigie Koroma, Abdul Bangura, are in court before Magistrate Sahr Kekura to answer to six count charges including conspiracy, arson and sacrilege, among others.
Police alleged that on September 24, 2023, at the Gateway Evangelistic Ministry Church at Quarry, Kissy in Freetown, the accused persons conspired together with other persons unknown to break into and entered the said church and stole two Lenovo Laptop computers, one IPhone 13 pro-max, one ultra-Samsung mobile phone, ten yards carpet.
They were also alleged to have attempted to set fire on the Gateway Evangelistic Ministry Church.
In his testimony in court on Monday February 5, 2024, Banya told the court that he had placed the video recordings into a flash drive as promised. He produced and tendered the said flash drive.
Cole vehemently objected to the tendering of the flash drive mainly on the grounds that, the defense couldn’t ascertain whether that was the video that was played in court at the last adjourned date.
He demanded that the content of the said memory stick be played so that the defense will be assured of it.
Responding to Cole’s objection, Sesay replied that the prosecution had done nothing wrong in tendering the flash drive as promised in the last court hearing.
Magistrate Kekura advised both counsels to bring the authorities they have to back their arguments on the next adjournment date, when he will give his final ruling in the matter.
Bail was extended for the accused persons and the matter was adjourned for ruling to Tuesday, February 13th 2024.
