By Henry Kargbo
Muniru Lebbie has been on Thursday 1st June, 2023 sent to the Male Correctional Centre at Pademba Road by Hon Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay of the Freetown High Court No.1 for alleged killing of a 40 year old RSLAF 18170594 Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Saidu in Kono.
The accused Muniru Lebbie is being arraigned at the High Court on three count charges of murder contrary to law.
According to the charge sheet, it was alleged that the accused on 23rd December 2020 at Kono District in the Eastern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone Murdered RSLAF 18170594 Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Saidu.
Count two of the charge sheet reads that the accused, Muniru Lebbie was also found in possession of unlicensed small arms contrary to Section 11 (1) of the Arms and Ammunition Act of 2012.
According to the particulars of offense, the accused on the 23rd December 2020 at Kono District was found in possession of two shot guns without license or lawful authority.
Count three stated the accused was also in possession of unlawful concealment of arms, contrary to regulation 22 of the Arms and Ammunition Regulation of 2024.
According to the offense, the accused, on 23rd December 2020 in Kono District unlawful concealed two shot gun.
The accused pleaded not guilty of all charge red to him by the court clack.
In his testimony in court, Prosecuting Witness 1, Police Detective Sergeant Abu Backarr Kanu told the court that he is attached to the Scientific Support Unit, Kenema District.
According to the witness, he recalled on 30th December 2020, himself and Inspector Paul witnessed an Autopsy examination on the remains of Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Saidu at the Connaught mortuary in Freetown carried out by Dr. Owizz Koroma.
Prosecuting Witness 1 continued, that during the examination he took photos of the remains in front of his colleague Inspector Paul.
After the photos taken, i developed the photos and arranged it into photograph and placed in a picture album, keep it in safe place, he told the court.
PW1 Detective Sergeant Abu Backarr Kanu tender the photographs in court and marked as exhibit H 1/20.
The matter was prosecuted by J. S. Tucker and represented by C. Tucker respectively.
Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay Adjoined the matter to June 8th, 2023.