By Mamajah Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone, mother Kashopeh Smith and daughter Remi Smith were on Wednesday 6 November 2024 sent to remand by Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba road court No2 over the alleged murder of Superintendent of Police Arnold Adeyemi Coker.
The accused persons made their third appearance on four counts charges of murder contrary to section 1 of the offences against the persons Act 1816 as repealed and replace by section 1 of the schedule of the abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021, Act No 6 of 2022, Perverting the course of justice contrary to law, misprison of felony contrary to law and other related offence.
According to the indictments on count one, the accused Kashopeh Smith on Monday 2 September 2024, at No 37 Carr Street Hastings, Freetown, murdered superintendent Arnold Adeyemi Coker.
The police further alleged on counts two that the first accused Kashopeh Smith on the same date and place well knowing the circumstances leading to the murder of Superintendent Arnold Adeyemi Coker that occurred on Monday 2 September 2024 and thereafter fabricated evidence with intent to pervert the course of justice.
It was also alleged on counts three that the accused Remi Smith between 1st and 2nd September 2024 at the same address knowing well that her mother Kashopeh Smith has committed an offence of murder and she unlawfully concealed the commission of the said felony.
Whiles counts four added that the accused Remi Smith well knowing the circumstances leading to the murder of Superintendent Arnold Adeyemi Coker that occurred on Monday 2 September 2024 and thereafter fabricated evidence with intent to pervert the course of justice.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused persons no plea was taken.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Juan M. S. Bull led in Prosecution Witness Number Two Vidal Coker Reside at No. 4 Lord Street Freetown a work at mastinvest Trading SL Limited he recognized the accused persons in the dock he know Superintendent Adeyemi Coker now deceased in this matter he recall on the 2 September 2024 on the 1st September himself and the deceased went to Saint Thomas Church, Hastings after the service they attended a lunch and watched Manchester United game they dispatched around 6:30 in the evening hours the witness said on the 2 September 2024 he left his house heading to the junction around the central area at Hastings he had people communicating but he didn’t put attention on it on his way he met the deceased daughter the witness said upon the rumours he cross checked with his children to check about the dead body that is around his area the witness said his son called him and told him that it is the deceased Adeyemi Coker lying dead upon that he took motorbike direct to the scene he met crowd surrounded the deceased with two slippers mutzig beer pint upon that he went to called one Mrs French normally called Aunty Lulu they took the remains of deceased to his house police officers came around and identified the corpse of the deceased and escorted it to Cannaught mortuary he concluded.
The witness was cross examined by defence counsel Claudius Campbell Esq.
Meanwhile Magistrate Bangura refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional facility in Freetown.
However, the case was adjourned to the 13 November, 2024, for further hearings.
