Lance Corporal Sahr Daramy on Friday 4th November 2022, at the High Court in Freetown was acquitted and discharged  by Justice Adrian Fisher as the twelve man jurors gave their verdict of not guilty to the offence of murder.

Daramy was standing trial on a count of murder Contrary to Law and the charge sheet. stated that Daramy on 19th December 2020, at Freetown, allegedly murdered one Abu Bakarr Conteh

The accused upon his arraignment pleaded not guilty to the offence and State Prosecutor M. Kekura made an application for the matter to be tried by Judge and Jury.

Justice Fisher in his summing up address to the jurors said the Prosecution brought a case against Daranty on a count of murder.

The Learned Judge stated that the Prosecution called seven witnesses to establish their case, adding that the burden and standard of proof against Daramy rest on the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused.

Justice Fisher furthered that Alhaji Papani Fadika in his testimony testified that Daramy is a Soldier and a friend, adding that they were at Baw-Baw village when Daramy complained that his phone has got missing and he suspected two boys Ibrahim and Abubakar Conteh of whom he firmly suspected was the one who stole his phone.

The witness said both suspected boys were fighting and it was Daramy who separated them and he left the scene to purchase a cigarette. Fadika in his testimony stated that

upon Daramy’s return, he saw both boys tied up, and the deceased whom he suspected of his missing phone untied himself and tried to escape when he was caught up by Daramy

Furthermore, he said the army observed that the deceased was weak and later he was pronounced Dead

Fadika said he and Daramy had been friends for the past fifteen years, describing him as a peaceful person. Justice Adrian Fisher continued that Dr Simeon Owizz Koroma Chief Medical Pathologist testified that the deceased died of hemorrhagic shock, spinal cord injuries and blunt force injury on his neck. (naturalkitchenschool.com) He went on that the cause of death was unnatural as the ribs of the deceased were damaged leading to excess bleeding, adding that the deceased was physically assaulted.

Justice Fisher furthered that in cross-examination Defense Counsel enquired from the government pathologist if the person in such a state as he described would die the same day and Dr Owizz responded that a person in such a state with injuries of such nature would die the same day.

The twelve-injury found Daramy not guilty of the offence of murder and he was acquitted and discharged.

Justice Fisher, therefore, cautioned the accused to be mindful of his actions saying that he is an army officer with a service of twenty-nine years. Defence Counsel representing the accused Charles Israel Williams appreciated the judgment of the accused and he thanked the jurors for their time in seeing out such a matter. MJB/8/11/2022