On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, three men—Kemoh Bangura, a 50-year-old tailor, Alimamy Bangura, a 50-year-old driver, and Pa Alimamy Kargbo, a 50-year-old farmer—made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at the Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown.

The accused are awaiting the final verdict in their ongoing murder trial.

The men have been charged with a single count of soliciting to murder, in violation of Section 4 of the Offenses Against the Person Act of 1861. It is alleged that on April 20, 2024, in the Rokon, Magbina section of the Port Loko district, they sought the services of a herbalist, Alusine Kamara, to kill Dr. Abubakarr Bangura.

During the court session, defense counsel Sahid Rafique Bangura pleaded for leniency on behalf of the accused. He highlighted the emotional toll on the men, who have been in detention for an extended period, and their families who depend on them. “Every human makes mistakes,” he said, citing a biblical reference in his plea for mercy and asking for the minimum possible sentence.

However, prosecutor Joan Bull urged the court to prioritize the law over emotions, stressing that the case had caused significant emotional distress, even leading a witness to be hospitalized. She called for a maximum sentence to serve as a deterrent to others.

In his remarks, Magistrate Bangura pointed out that for a conviction, the prosecution must prove that the accused took active steps to facilitate the murder, even if the crime was not completed. He emphasized the inconsistency in the accused men’s testimonies, noting that audio recordings of conversations about the planned murder were corroborated by their own admissions to the police—admissions they later attempted to retract in court.

The magistrate observed that the defendants’ statements to the police, including the claim that the herbalist had been hired to cure an illness rather than commit murder, conflicted with their testimony in court, further weakening their defense. “A witness who gives evidence in court that differs from their earlier statements cannot be relied upon,” Magistrate Bangura stated.

Concluding his review, Magistrate Bangura ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt. He found the accused guilty of soliciting to murder but deferred sentencing to October 22, 2024, leaving the final outcome of the case pending.