Hawanatu Hawa Koroma, who allegedly poured petrol on her husband and set him ablaze, was on Wednesday, 19th February 2025, committed to the High Court of Sierra Leone by Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No. 2 for further trial.

Before the commission, Magistrate Bangura, according to the indictment, revealed that the incident took place on Friday, 22nd November, 2024 at the back of Leicester Peak Junction in Freetown, and that the murdered husband was Nabieu Bangura.

Magistrate Bangura explained that the accused Hawanatu was brought forward to the court on a count charge of murder contrary to section 1 of the offenses against the person’s Act of 1816 as repeated and replaced by Section (1a) of the schedule of the abolition of the death penalty Act of 2021 Act No.6 of 2022.

The Magistrate, in his committal statement, further stated that the Prosecutor Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sorie Conteh led five witnesses and the testimonies of the witnesses corroborated.

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In delivering his ruling, the Magistrate asserted that the indictable nature of the offence charged, the matter had to be proceeded with as a preliminary investigation because the prosecution is required to put forward sufficient evidence that should establish a prima facie case to be answered by the accused in order for her to be committed to stand trial at the high court.

In executing the burden of proof against the accused person, he said the persecutor called five witnesses who teatified and were-cross examined by the Defense Counsel, A.N.D Musa on behalf of the accused.

The Magistrate, in his further committal asserted that he had carefully read and the evidence in detail and he has noted that the prosecution has been able to establish a prima facie case against the accused.

“This is especially so when almost all the witnesses have established the fact that the accused poured petrol on the deceased and set him ablaze m,” he maintained.

The Magistrate, in his final words, ruled that in pursuant to Section 120 of the Criminal Procedures Act of 1965, the matter is committed to the High Court for further trial.