1 Comment
The two accused, Emma Coker and Abdul Khe-Morlai on Thursday 13 March 2025, made another appearance before the Principal Magistrate of the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 for allegedly beating a youth leading to his death the following day.
furthermore the accused persons; Emma Coker and Abdul Khe-Morlai, were arraigned before the court on two count charges of conspiracy to murder contrary to section 4 of the Offense Against the Person’s Act of 1861, and Murder, contrary to section 1 of the Offense Against the Person’s Act of 1861 as repealed and replaced by section 1(a) of the schedule of the abolition of the death penalty Act of 2001.
The charge sheet indicated that both accused on Sunday 22 December 2024 at Bonga Lane in Freetown, conspired together to commit murder.
The charge sheet furthered that both accused on the same day and place, murdered Mohamed Conteh. During proceedings, Defense Counsel Luseini cross-examined the police witness, Inspector Alusine Bob Conteh.
The police, during cross-examination, said he was the investigating officer in the said matter and had been investigating cases for ten years. Answering questions posed to him by the Defense Counsel, the witness said that he visited the crime scene, adding that at the scene of the crime, the witnesses he spoke with did not tell him that the deceased was beaten by unknown persons.
He furthered that during the investigation there was a lady called Sylvia and that the said Sylvia and others are at large. He said he charged the accused persons based on the advice given at the Law Officers Department, adding that Sylvia is one of the suspects in this matter. Witness Conteh further stated that during the investigation, the first accused, Emma Coker, told him that Sylvia was the one shouting that the deceased was a thief.
When asked by the Defense Counsel to provide the progress report he made during the investigation of the matter, the witness said he does not have it with him in court, but if given time, he will bring it to court.
Defense Counsel Luseini made an application for the progress report to be brought before the court and for it to form part of the evidence. He made this application pursuant to section 3&4 of the Criminal Procedures Act of 1865.
Witness Conteh furthered that during the investigation, he cautioned both the 4 accused persons as to their rights, adding that the accused persons were arrested on 22 December 2024 at 18:00 hours but he cannot recall.
when the matter was brought before the court, at this juncture, Defense Counsel Luseini sought an adjournment for a continuation of cross-examination.
The court seat today Monday 17 March 2025. To be continued as more information
This lawlessness has to stop. We live in a democracy and people should abstain from taking the law into their hands. Mob justice is never an option. The rule of law has to prevail in our land.