By Henry Kargbo
Hon. Justice Monfred Sesay has Tuesday 2 August 2023 ordered a bench warrant for the fourth accused, Aiah Komba and surety, Finda Komba for failing to appear before the court for murder trial. Lead state prosecutor, Aruna Jalloh stated that the indemnity, Finda Komba was supposed to bring along the accused who was on bail but absent in court due to other reason.
In his submission Jalloh said he is supposed to produce his sixth witness to testify but however intimidated that the witness travelled out of the country on official assignment.
He informed the court that the witness will be back against the next seating. He said the absence of the accuse stands seriously that he noted derailing the trial. He also commended the court for the reduction of juries to ten for speedy trial.
With the absence of the shorty and accused as reported by the court registrar sounds worrisome, he added, revealing that the surety travelled to Kono to get the accused that was reportedly ill.
He applied to the Hon. Justice Sesay to withdraw the bail on the grounds that the other accused persons might possibly not appear in court on the next adjoined date.
In his pleads mitigation, lawyer R. Bangura defending all the accused persons told the court that regardless of his learned colleague continues to stand his grounds for the bail application to be withdrawn, and continued to plead with the Hon Justice Sesay to temper justice with mercy with regards the accused person that was absence.
He said the accused persons on trial take the court seriously and they have demonstrated their individual respect on their bail terms in respect of the case of alleged murder.
He said each of the accused continues to carry their own cross and that the submission of his colleague that the remaining accused persons on bail withdraw and remanded should be consider and therefore called on the judge to give consideration as the remaining accused persons respect the court.
After listening to both counsels, Hon. Justice M. Sesay ordered a bench warrant for the surety and the absent accused person and remanded the remaining accused persons.
The accused Mohamed Johnson, Aiah Komba, Kalielu Fofanah, Victor Kellie and Ishmael Charles were all charged for murder.
Matter Adjoined to Wednesday 9 August 2023 for hearing.
