The 2nd Prosecution Witness (PW2) yesterday testified in the murder trial of the suspended General Manager of Skye Bank, Ekubolaje Nicol. The witness, Augusta Kamara, a nurse of six years standing attached to Shuman Hospital at Putney Street in Freetown, said the deceased Sinnah Kargbo was already dead at the time the accused took her to the hospital.

She said around 5 am on Oct. 16, she was on duty administering medication to a patient when Alimamy from the reception called to say there was an emergency downstairs. She then delegated the responsibility of taking care of the patient to her colleague Theresa and left to attend to the emergency.

She said upon arrival at the scene, she saw the victim inside a vehicle with a spoon in her mouth. She observed that the deceased was not breathing and her neck was not in a normal condition. She also observed that the deceased was without any underwear. The witness stated that she rushed inside to prepare a bed for the victim at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) whilst one of her colleagues rushed to call the doctor who came and enquired from the accused if he was the person that brought the deceased to the hospital. The accused responded in the affirmative. She said the doctor then told the accused that the patient was already dead. Thereafter, the accused, Nicol, abandoned the corpse in the hospital and fled. The witness was then cross-examined by defence Roland Wright Esq.

Taking the witness stand, the First Prosecution Witness (PW1), Police Constable 2096 Mustapha Conteh attached to the Mountain Police Division, said he works as a security guard at the accused’s residence in Leicester, Freetown.

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PC Conteh disclosed that he had been working for the accused for over a year now. He told the court that he usually reports for duty at the accused’s residence at 9 am but doesn’t have a fixed time to retire home.

He recalled reporting for work on Oct. 15, 2022, and met the accused at home. At midnight, he said, the accused woke me up, took his vehicle and drove out.

The witness continued that on the morning of Oct. 16 the accused called him and the caretaker.

“I and the caretaker entered his apartment, he requested that we help him carry his girlfriend who was feeling bad. When I entered, I saw a lady lying on the bed, while another lady was lying on the floor of the bathroom. She was naked. Myself, the accused’s private security and the accused took the lady to carry her to the hospital, but at that time, she was nervous and she was biting her tongue,” the witness revealed.

The caretaker took something and placed it in the mouth of the deceased. The accused told his private security to find a dress for the deceased. The caretaker brought out a black T-shirt and black trousers which he wore on the deceased. Within that period, the accused removed his vehicle from the car park and parked it at the entrance.

“Myself, the caretaker and the private security carrier the deceased and placed her inside the vehicle, while the accused requested that they help him carry the deceased to the hospital.

He said the other lady who was lying on the bed disappeared from the scene while they were rushing the deceased to the hospital. The witness disclosed that he did not know this lady and he had never met her before.

He further disclosed that the accused lives with his caretaker and the caretaker’s family, but noted that the caretaker and his family live in a separate apartment.

The witness added that they drove to Shuman Hospital. The witness could not remember the time they arrived at the hospital. When they arrived at Shuman hospital, he said the accused took the deceased inside the hospital and informed the nurses of her condition, while he and the caretaker stayed outside.

He also mentioned that the nurses that came outside to respond to the deceased used medical equipment to examine the deceased before she was carried inside the hospital in a wheelchair. The witness said he left the hospital for his house.

“On Monday, when I reported for work, I learnt that somebody had died in the house of the accused,” the witness concluded. The matter was adjourned to Dec. 13.