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Abu Bakarr Yillah, a 47-year-old resident of Kambia, was committed to the High Court on charges of murder by Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No. 2.
The commitment follows preliminary proceedings related to the alleged killing of Fasineh Bangura on July 13, 2022, in Yana Village, Tambakha Yombagie Chiefdom, Karene Judicial District, North west Sierra Leone.
Yillah faces one count of murder in violation of Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as revised by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2022, Act No. 6 of 2022. He appeared for the first time before Magistrate Bangura, who clarified that no plea was taken when the charge was presented and explained to the accused.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh led the prosecution, presenting five witnesses in support of the indictment, including formal witnesses who testified to establish the grounds of the charge. The defense counsel filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not provided sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.
Magistrate Bangura reviewed the submissions and, in his ruling, determined that the prosecution had presented enough evidence to establish a prima facie case requiring the accused’s response. Magistrate Bangura stated, “Having regard to the totality of the evidence adduced, I am satisfied that the prosecution raised a prima facie case to be answered by the accused.”
With this finding, Magistrate Bangura committed Yillah to the High Court for trial, where the accused will face the charge of murder. The date for the High Court trial is pending as judicial proceedings continue in the Karene Judicial District.
