The Chief Medical Examiner and pathologist, Simeon Owiss Koroma has during the court marshal proceedings affirmed that the deaths of Colonel Wilfred Sao Samai, John Robert Mboma, and other military officers involved in the November 26th attempted coup d’état were attributable to gunshot wounds.
Awoko Newspaper SL reported that, Testifying as the 35th witness for the state, Dr. Koroma gave out the findings of his autopsy conducted on the deceased soldiers at the Court Martial Hearing, emphasizing that the fatal injuries sustained from the gunshots were the primary cause of their demise.
He delved greatly on the autopsy process, highlighting its objective to identify the deceased, conduct thorough examinations, and determine the cause of death, including the manner and mode of death.
He conducted a post-mortem examinations at the 34 Military Hospital, in the presence of the deceased’s families and law enforcement officials with regards victims of the November 26th incident and compiled his findings into an Autopsy Report and issued certificates of the cause of death to the families for proper burial.
Detailing the specifics of Lieutenant Colonel Samai’s autopsy, Dr. Koroma described a gunshot wound to the lower left chest, resulting in acute hemorrhagic shock, which proved fatal. Similarly, he noted that Officer Mboma suffered from neurogenic shock due to ruptured intestines caused by gunshots.
Dr. Koroma concluded that the cause of death for all examined military officers was directly related to gunshot wounds, dispelling any notions of pre-existing ailments as contributing factors.
The court adjourned the proceedings for May 9th, 2024, to allow for the continuation of Dr. Koroma’s testimony, following thorough questioning by state counsel Joseph AK Sesay.