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Justice John Bosco has on the 14th October, 2021 sentenced Alie Sajah Forster and Victor Emmanuel Sesay (alias Creature) to six (6) yrs imprisonment while the third accused person Michael Abass Turay was acquitted and discharged.
The convicts were charged on eight (8) counts charges ranging from murder, conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to course graciously bodily harm with intent, malicious damage, carrying offensive weapons without lawful authority, throwing missiles, and riotous conduct. The convicts pleaded not guilty to the offences charged.
The particulars of offense state that Alie Sajah Forster, Victor Emmanuel Sesay (alias Creature) and Michael Abass Turay on Saturday the 1st February, 2020 at No.14 Minnah Drive Juba Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone conspired together with other persons unknown to murder Lahai Laurence Leema the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.
That Alie Sajah Forster, Victor Emmanuel Sesay (alias Creature) and Michael Abass Turay on Saturday the 1st February, 2020 at No.14 Minnah Drive Juba Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone conspired together with other persons unknown to murder to murder Aiah Fengai.
In his judgment, Justice Allieu said that the state prosecutor leads four witnesses and PW1 Aiah Fengai, a police constable 15756 attached at the Operation Service Division headquarter. He said that PW1 said whiles on duty he was sitting in the compound he observed that stones and bottles were pelted into the compound over the fence. He added that the PW1 said he opened the gate and stepped outside where he saw a crowed of youth including the three accused persons and they rushed at him and grabbed him; during the fight he took out his pepper spray and used it on his assailants which caused them to retreat and later fire warning shot in the air.
He said that PW1 continued to say that the first accused person rushed at him and held on to his weapon but he was able to take it away from them whiles he was struggling with the first accused for the weapon, the 2nd and 3rd accused persons rushed at him with the second accused armed with a long machete.
Justice Bosco said that the following people testified before the court, PW2 a Detective Police Inspector Mohamed Kargbo attached at the Criminal Investigations Department headquarter, Pademba Road Freetown, PW3 Mohamed Kugba Allieu Detective Supt of Police and the Operations Officer attached at the Criminal Investigations Department and PW4 Lahai Laurence Lema the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs. Justice Bosco said PW4 Lahai Laurence Lema said he went downstairs in order to send his young brother to buy top up card for him and on his return upstairs, he heard serious altercation outside his gate. From upstairs, he saw his younger brother whom he had sent to purchase top up card returning to the compound in haste. Upon enquiries, he was told that some people had attacked his security guard. Justice Bosco said PW4 saw the first accused in a very aggressive mood moving towards the security guard and he lost sight from and he heard gunshot and at that time he was calling his security guard and later he heard another gun short. He said PW4 advised him to be static and observe his target than to be moving up and down. By target, he meant those who would be coming to attack the security guard.
However, Justice John Bosco fined the two accused persons guilty as charged. The accused persons were found not guilty on count 1- 4 the judge acquitted and discharged them. Whereas, on one count five the second accused persons was found guilty on count five for carrying offensive weapons while the 1&3 accused persons were not found guilty so they are discharged, count six the 1&2 accused persons were found guilty and the third accused is acquitted and discharged, count 7 the accused persons were not found guilty and on count 8 the 1&2 accused persons were found guilty. While the third accused person was not found guilty of any of the 8 counts, and was acquitted and discharged.
During the plea mitigation the defense counsel C.I Williams pleaded with the bench to tempered Justice with mercy for his clients. He continued to say that his clients were first time offenders and they are young Sierra Leoneans. He continued to say the accused persons have learnt their lesson and he asked his lordship to consider a non-custodian sentence. There was no antecedent from the State Prosecutor. The 2nd accused person was sentenced to 6 years seven months, while the 1st accused person was sentenced for 1 year seven months.
