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Justice Alfred Ganda of the High Court has granted defence lawyers for Abdul Kpaka access to key evidence, including the accused’s confiscated iPhone and autopsy photographs.
The ruling by Justice Alfred Ganda on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, comes two weeks after the prosecution closed its nearly two-year case regarding the August 2024 death of Kpaka’s girlfriend, Sia Fatmata Kamara.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, defense counsel E.T. Koroma outlined the team’s readiness to proceed, submitting three specific requests to the court:
Return of the iPhone: The defense requested the return of Kpaka’s iPhone 12 Pro Max, which has been in police custody since his arrest. Koroma argued the phone contains texts and chats essential to their defense. He noted that since the prosecution did not utilize the phone’s data during their case, they were not relying on its contents.
Autopsy Photographs: A request for copies of all crime scene photographs taken during Kamara’s autopsy procedure.
Hospital CCTV Footage: An order compelling Emergency Hospital management to produce surveillance footage from Tuesday, August 13, 2024, between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. The defense believes this footage will show Kpaka bringing Kamara to the hospital and subsequently leaving after she was pronounced dead.
Lead prosecutor Yusuif Isaac Sesay objected to the requests, labeling them premature. Sesay argued that the defense must first formally declare how they intend to proceed before applying for evidence.
Justice Ganda agreed with the prosecution on procedure, prompting Kpaka to formally declare his strategy. Ending public speculation that his legal team might file a “no case submission,” Kpaka confirmed to the court that he will take the stand to testify under oath, call witnesses, and submit evidence.
Following Kpaka’s declaration, Justice Ganda ruled in favor of the defense on two of the three applications, granting them access to the iPhone and the autopsy photographs. Citing Section 23(1) of the Sierra Leone Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial, the judge stated the defense was entitled to the materials.
Regarding the CCTV footage, Justice Ganda withheld an immediate order, instructing the defense to first provide the exact name and official designation of the hospital administrator to whom the subpoena should be directed.
The hearing concluded with mild friction between the opposing counsels. When the prosecution cautioned the defense against delaying the expedited trial, Justice Ganda quickly intervened, reminding the state that they took nearly two years to close their own case. The defense echoed the judge’s sentiment, insisting that delays are not in Kpaka’s best interest.
The defense also pressed for clarity on two outstanding legal issues: a pending case stated for the Supreme Court and a ruling on bail. Justice Ganda acknowledged the pending matters and promised a decision, likely by the next court date.
The trial is adjourned until Wednesday, March 4, 2026, when Kpaka is expected to be called as the first defense witness.
Abdul Kpaka was arrested and charged with murder in August 2024 following the death of Sia Fatmata Kamara on Peninsula Road in Freetown. The case generated massive public outrage after a postmortem report revealed Kamara had suffered severe blunt-force injuries, including broken ribs and a damaged spinal cord.
Kpaka made his initial appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura on August 28, 2024, facing charges under Section 1 of the Offenses Against the Person Act of 1861.
Following intense public pressure for justice, Kamara was laid to rest in September 2024, while the prosecution spent the subsequent months building its case. Kpaka has maintained his presumption of innocence throughout the proceedings.
