By Mohamed Foday Jalloh
The High Court of Sierra Leone, presided by Hon Justice Momoh Jah Steven has in a trial by Judge and Jurors released two people from custody after the court found out that they accused persons, Gbassy Kargbo and Ahamadu Bailor Jalloh ‘alias Network’ who were charged to court on a count murder.
The two were released at the Freetown High Court before Hon Justice Momoh Jah Steven and a twelve-man Jurors who delivered a not guilty verdict.
As the law demands, the twelve-man Jurors acted in court as Judges of fact in matters that have to do with the state against any accused person for the offence of murder among others.
The two accused persons, Gbassy Kargbo, and Ahamadu Bailor Jalloh made their first appearance in court before Magistrate Mark Ngegba for Preliminary Investigation (PI) of murder and conspiracy to commit murder contrary to law.
It was alleged that both accused persons on the 9th March 2022 in Freetown murdered one Ahamed Boie Kamara at his private resident.
Before the matter was charged to court by the Sierra Leone Police, government pathologist, Dr. Owizz Koroma, who is the only Sierra Leonean expert doctor confirmed the cause of death as unnatural, which the prosecution team banked upon during the trial.
Before delivering the verdict by the twelve-man Jurors, the Hon Justice Momoh Jah Steven told the court that the prosecution called several witnesses to establish their case against both accused, the State prosecutor, Mohamed Pious Sesay, during his address in court after the witnesses for the decease had testified against the first defendant, following a land matter, the accused threatened that it will be his last testimony in court.
The State Counsel Lawyer, Mohamed Pious Sesay also addressed the court that the evidence shown that the second accused is in a civil matter being a defendant was seen with others at Madonkeh village, beating the deceased.
The State Counsel lawyer continued that at the same time, he told the decease that he will never be a witness in court any longer.
The two accused, according to the State Counsel, Mohamed Pious Sesay also left the village with two motorbikes on their own. The Judge told the Jurors before the discharged of the two accused persons that after looking at the law and listening to the evidence, requested that the Jurors should consider their verdict of guilty or not.
The Jurors moved to a private place to decide the faith of the accused persons.
They returned with a unanimous verdict of not guilty on both counts, the Hon Justice Momoh Jah Steven was left with no option but acquitted and discharged the two accused person.
