Abubakarr Yillah, a former police officer has last Friday, 27 September, 2024 made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No. 2 for allegedly killing with a pistol.
In his testimony, the witness Sergeant 8576 Issa Kamara reside at Grafton Police Barracks attached to the exhibit office at Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters Freetown, recognized the accused as a former police officer and outlined his role and responsibilities which is to ensure the safe keeping of all exhibit relating to matters that have been investigated and charged to court.
He recalled on 22nd November 2023 Sergeant 8826 Konneh S. M. attached to the Homicide Syndicate handed over to him the following items as exhibit in respect of five empty bullet shells, two shrapnel, one fired canister, one old NP pistol and two magazines containing fourteen live rounds; each the witness said he registered the items with serial number 129/2024 since then it has been in the custody of the police the said exhibits was produce and tendered in court to form part of the court records the five empty bullet shells marked as exhibit H1-5 the two shrapnel marked as exhibit J1-2, the fired canister marked as exhibit K the NP pistol marked as exhibit L and the two magazines marked as exhibit M1-30 he concluded.
Counsel representing the accused person Sahid Sesay Esq putting the question to the witness when was the exhibit handed over to you the witness said on the 22nd November 2023
Can you tell the capacity of the magazines? The witness said he declined.
Did you packed the magazines the witness said yes it contains fourteen bullets and he cannot tell whether it was full or not.
Did you receive any vehicle in respect of this matter the witness said he didn’t receive any vehicle in respect of this matter
Did you know the accused person the witness said yes he was a police officer and he was his friend and colleague.
Did you visit the crime scene the witness said no all he did is to keep exhibit he conclude
The accused was remanded and the matter adjourned to 4 October 2024.
The accused was arraigned before the court on one count charge of murder contrary to section 1 of the offense against the person’s act of 1861as repeal and replace by section 1(a) to the schedule of the abolition of the death penalty act of 2021, Act no.6 of 2022.
The charge sheet indicated that the accused on Wednesday 13th August, 2022 at Yana Village in the Tambakh chiefdom Karena district murdered Fasineh Bangura.
