Military Officer Slaps Man to Death in Freetown

The State Forensic Pathologist Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma has disclosed in court before Magistrate Komba Kamanda that according to his pathological findings the cause of death of one Mashud Salieu Kamara was as a result of massive bleeding in the internal celibrium, hemorrhage shock due to extensive skull fracture of the left owcietal, blunt force injuries and lever damages.

Dr. Owizz who was testifying as the last prosecution witness led in evidence by Assistance Supreitendent of Police (ASP) Ramond Dunia said he was on duty at the Connaught Hospital Mortuary on the 29th August 2015 when he received instructions from the Chief Medical officer in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Dr. Brima Kargbo and at the request of the corona in Freetown to conduct an autopsy on the remains of late Mashud Salieu Kamara a 39 year old businessman formerly of Sherbro Town Goderich Village west of Freetown.

He said on his observation while carrying out autopsy on the remais of the late man he discovered that the deceased was murdered in cold blood.

He told the court that the body of the deceased was identified on the same date he received the instructions to carry out the autopsy adding that the autopsy lasted more than hours in the presence of a relatives to the deceased including the investigating officer and the scene of crime officer.

“During the internal and external examination of the body of the deceased i discovered that the cause of death was unnatural and the manner in which the deceased died was homicide”, he revealed.

“At the conclusion of the autopsy i reduce my pathological findings to a postmortem report and i signed and dated all the pages”, he said.

He informed the court that at the conclusion he gave the original copy of medical cause of death certificate to the relatives of the deceased for proper burial, and also gave a copy to the Sierra Leone Police.

The defense counsel for the accused Lawyer C. F Edwards Esq. during cross-examination asked the doctor whether he knew the health history of the deceased prior to his death, he answered in the negative.
He further asked the doctor if he was aware that the deceased was admitted in a hospital for days before his death, Dr. Owizz said yes.

At the conclusion the Prosecutor informed the court that he was closing his case and opinioned that he has adduced sufficient evidence connecting the accused to the offence of murder which he said is enough to warrant the committal of the matter to the High Court for proper trial.

Lawyer C. F Edwards in response said he will address the court on the next sitting on a no-case submission.

It could be recalled that the accused Musa Sesay confirmed to be a military personnel on Thursday 20th August 2015 at Lumley bus halt allegedly murdered Mashud Salieu Kamara.

Family sources say the accused boarded a vehicle together with the victim heading for Lumley. On their way, the victim complained that the vehicle was overloaded and the accused said that he was causing unnecessary noise.

An argument ensued between the accused and victim, wherein the accused threatened to slap the victim when they reached to their destination.

On arrival, the accused seriously slapped the victim thereby leaving him in coma for complete seven days and later died at the Connaught hospital.

The accused (Musa Sesay) is facing one count of murder contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.

Meanwhile, he was refused bail and remanded in custody at the Pademba Road Prison and have his matter adjourned to the 10th November 2015 pending commital to the High Court.