Hon Justice Monfred Sesay of the Freetown High Court has yesterday Wednesday 8 November, 2023 withdrawn from presiding over the pending alleged murder matter involving the killing of the Providence School Teacher.
The deceased was allegedly murdered by his pupil, Mohamed Haroun Conteh.
Speaking in an open court, Hon Justice Sesay disclosed that he had discharged the empanel jurors who were to bring opinion reached on the said matter, pointing out that he cannot continue with the matter for a personal reason.
Mohamed Harun Conteh was arraigned before the court on a count charge of murder contrary to law.
The indictment stated that the accused, on Saturday 11 March 2023, at Victoria Street in Freetown, allegedly murdered Mr. Gillis Edward Ola Johnson.
State prosecutor A. Jalloh informed Wednesday’s 8 November proceedings that he has three witnesses to lead including the government pathologist Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma, disclosing that he will not precede with the matter because he doesn’t have proper conferences with the witnesses.
The counsel said he had communicated same to defence counsel.
Defence counsel, Emmanuel Teddy Koroma objected to prosecuting counsel’s submission adding that the offence for which the accused is standing trial for is grave.
Lawyer Koroma said that the prosecuting counsel ought to have for the needful before coming to court.
Hon Justice Sesay in his response told the court that the prosecuting counsel was in conduct of his case. Lawyer Koroma then made an application for bail on behalf of the accused.
But Hon Justice Sesay stated that he will not proceed with the matter due to personal reason and he therefore discharged the jurors that were empanelled in court to seat on the matter.
He furthered that the matter should be assigned to another judge for hearing and ordered the accused to be remanded at the Male Correctional Service at Pademba Road, Freetown. The matter comes up again for further hearing.
