Post a comment
The trial of Joseph Mendel Lamin, alias “Manager Dust,” continued today at Pademba Road Court No. 1, with the wife of the murdered journalist Samuel Brima Mattia providing powerful testimony.
Lamin, the station manager of Voice of Peace and Development (VOPAD) Radio Station in Waterloo, faces allegations of conspiracy to commit murder and murder in connection with Mattia’s death on January 15, 2025.
Lamin appeared for the fourth time in court, facing charges under the Offences Against Persons Act 1861, as revised by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021. The prosecution alleges that Lamin conspired with others to kill Mattia, whose body was discovered in a bush near the radio station in Kissi Town, Waterloo.
Kadiatu Kanu, the widow of the deceased, was the second prosecuting witness to testify in court. Kadiatu, a businesswoman, described her six- or seven-year marriage to Samuel, whom she said had considered Lamin his best friend. She stated that she had never met the other two defendants, Kamara and Timbo, prior to the trial.
Kadiatu recounted the tragic events of January 15, 2025. Her husband had left for the radio station early that morning at 6:30 a.m. and later returned for dinner and a change of clothes. He informed her he would return to the station to park bikes but never came back by 9:00 p.m. As her concern grew, Kadiatu tried calling her husband repeatedly, but her calls went unanswered. She then reached out to Lamin, who initially claimed to be at home with his lover before stating he had gone to the station but received no response, despite hearing music inside. He assured her that Samuel would return soon.
The next morning, Kadiatu, still unable to contact her husband, went to the radio station, where she found Lamin sitting under a mango tree. Despite her inquiries about Samuel, Lamin was unable to provide any information. In increasing distress, Kadiatu and family members approached the station’s Board Chairman, Mr. Margai, and another individual named Foday.
It wasn’t until later that day that Kadiatu received the heartbreaking news that a body had been discovered in a bush. She initially questioned the news but, upon reaching the site, identified the body as that of her beloved husband. Overcome with grief, Kadiatu then went to the police station to provide a statement.
Her emotional testimony marked a pivotal moment in the trial, which continues to unfold in the court. Magistrate Sahr Kekura postponed the case until March 4, 2025, as the court awaits further testimony related to the tragic death of Samuel Brima Mattia.
The case has sparked widespread public interest, with many calling for justice for the slain journalist, as the trial continues to reveal the grim details surrounding his death
