By Mamajah Jalloh
In an ongoing murder trial, mother Kashopeh Smith and daughter Remi Smith were yesterday – Thursday, 31 October 2024, sent on remand by Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No 2 over the alleged murder of Superintendent Arnold Adeyemi Coker.
The accused persons made second appearance in court were arraigned on four counts charges of murder contrary to section 1 of the offences against the persons Act 1816 as repealed and replace by section 1 of the schedule of the abolition of the death penalty Act 2021, Act No 6 of 2022, Perverting the course of justice contrary to law,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 1 and 2 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.
The lead prosecutor ASP Wellington led in prosecution witness number one Christian Coker who resides at No 82 Mackomock Street Hastings Freetown and a factory worker confirmed that he knows the deceased Mr. Arnold Adeyemi Coker as his uncle. Coker revealed that he recognized the accused persons as his Church members as he recalled on the 2 September 2024 that something transpired between the deceased who left home very early in the morning at around 11:00 am o’clock and came back at 10:00pm within five minutes came out of his room and said he was going out again he left and went to Kosso Town area.
The witness said he went to bed and slept until in the morning hours without the deceased coming home in the morning hours and later heard some huge noise, he went to where the noise was coming from and one Musu Kanu told him that his uncle the deceased had died and that was what the noise was about. Christian maintained that he went to the direction he was pointed to and found the deceased dead he was covered with a bedspread. Coker furthered that when he arrived from church he wore a blue suit which he changed to green top and a blue pair of trousers the witness said upon that he made statement to the police
The lead defence counsel, Claudius Campbell Cross examined the witness.
Meanwhile Magistrate Bangura refused bail and sent the accused persons to the Female Correctional Facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to the 6 November 2024
