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The courtroom at Pademba Road Court No. 2 was thick with tension as 28-year-old Adekalie Conteh stood silently in the dock, facing allegations that have sent shockwaves through his community.
A rising businessman by trade, Conteh is now at the center of a harrowing murder case that has left a family devastated and a neighborhood reeling.
Charged with conspiracy to murder and destruction of property, Conteh’s case took a heart-wrenching turn when the victim’s sister, Memunatu Bendu, took the witness stand. What unfolded wasn’t just a legal proceeding—it was the unraveling of a family’s tragedy.
With her voice shaking, Bendu described the moments leading up to her brother Andrew Mansaray’s death. Just days before his body was discovered, Andrew had confided in her about a troubling incident. After returning from Aberdeen Beach on February 9, 2025, he appeared visibly disturbed. A relative had allegedly informed him that his personal belongings, including his mobile phone, had gone missing.
But the real horror came two days later. Bendu, still unaware of what lay ahead, received a distressing call from her husband. Andrew, she was told, had been captured—allegedly by Conteh—over an unresolved financial dispute. As hours passed with no updates, dread consumed her.
Then came the call that changed everything.
Her worst fears were confirmed at the Adonkia police station, where she was taken to identify her brother’s lifeless body. The pain was unbearable, but Bendu pressed on, providing a detailed statement to investigators, hoping justice would one day follow.
Leading the prosecution, Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh outlined the gravity of the case. Conteh is believed to have orchestrated the attack on Mansaray with others, in what prosecutors say was a calculated act of violence. He is also accused of vandalizing properties owned by a man identified as Francis Lebbie.
As the defense, led by lawyer M.W. Jalloh Esq., attempted to cast doubt on Bendu’s testimony, her account remained unwavering. Each word carried the weight of grief, but also a fierce determination to speak for her brother.
With no plea taken at this stage, Magistrate Santigie Bangura ordered the accused to be remanded at the Freetown Male Correctional Centre. The case was adjourned to April 4, 2025, as the prosecution prepares to bring forward additional witnesses.
