Business Tycoon Abdul Kpaka Faces Murder Charges in Freetown Court
James Kamara-Manneh Business tycoon Abdul Kpaka appeared in court today, charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Sia Fatmata Kamara.
The hearing, held at the Pademba Court and presided over by Magistrate Santigie Bangura, was Kpaka’s first court appearance since being formally charged by the Sierra Leone Police on Monday.
Kpaka, who is accused of killing Kamara on August 13, 2024, at Peninsula Road in Freetown, did not enter a plea during today’s proceedings. The charges, read by Deputy Assistant Registrar Hindolo Kater, fall under Section 1 of the Offenses Against the Person Act of 1861, which deals with murder.
The prosecution, led by Chief Superintendent of Police Joan Bull, requested a short adjournment, stating that they had just received the case file and needed time to review it.
Defense counsel Emmanuel Teddy Koroma, while offering condolences to Kamara’s family, emphasized the importance of a speedy trial, noting that Kpaka is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case, which has drawn significant public attention due to the brutality of the crime, has been adjourned to September 4, 2024. Kamara’s postmortem report revealed severe injuries, including broken ribs and a damaged spinal cord, sparking widespread outrage and calls for justice.
Kamara’s funeral is scheduled for September 1, 2024, at the Charles Davies Memorial United Methodist Church in Lumley, with a memorial service to be held on August 30 at the Freetown City Council Auditorium