By Saio Marrah
A Magistrate in Freetown has promised to discharge a murder Preliminary Investigation (PI) after the prosecution failed to present their first witness for three consecutive hearings.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mark Ngegba, said this at the Pademba Road Court No.1 on Thursday 28th September 2023, after the acting police prosecutor, Sergeant Momoh Lahai applied for adjournment of the PI informing the court that there was no witness.
“This should be the final adjournment…if you fail to bring witness I will discharge the next adjournment,” Magistrate Ngegba warned the prosecution.
The fair-in-complexion accused, Salamatu Conteh, faces one count of murder that occurred on 16th July this year at the accused’s family house, 18A Sumaila town in Freetown.
The 21-year-old accused, stood in the dock, showing no expression.
The accused who was dressed in a black and white top and sky-blue jeans drifted glances at both the police prosecutor and the presiding magistrate, who were addressing the court.
Magistrate Ngegba had earlier expressed his dismay over the failure of the prosecution to present its first prosecution witness during the second hearing.
The Head of Sierra Leone police legal affairs, Chief Superintendent of Police, Joan Bull, promised to take stern action against police prosecutors dealing with cases.
She also promised to take up the issue with the Inspector General of Police.
However, the substantive prosecutor of the murder matter Assistant Superintendent of Police, Dahlia Wellington was reported sick during the second hearing.
The murder preliminary investigation comes up on 4th October this year.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (29/09/23)
