By Saio Marrah
Lead State Prosecutor, Joseph A.K. Sesay in the ongoing court martial has explained that after leading 37 witnesses, the state has closed its case against the 26 soldiers.
Sesay told the court on Wednesday 5th June, 2024 that the prosecution decided to drop the rest of the 35 witnesses for the sake of progress.
He said the 26 accused persons were charged on various counts, all totaling 88 counts, of which each of the charges were investigated by various commanders pursuant to the military law.
Ady Macauley talking on behalf of defence lawyers, told the court martial that nine of the accused persons including the 11th, 15th and 23rd accused would do a no case submission.
He said the ninth and 21 accused will take the witness box and call witnesses. Macauley also called on the bench to give a two week adjournment for the defence to have time to prepare.
Lawyer Ibrahim Bangura from Legal Aid Board, representing majority of the accused said that at the next adjourned date, he would inform the court about the decision of his clients on those that would be presenting no case submissions and those that would take the witness box to defend themselves.
He also called on the bench to furnish the defence with the court records. This application was granted by the judge advocate, Mark Ngegba.
The case resumes on Wednesday 12th June this year.
The 26 military personnel were alleged to have been part of the perpetrators of the November 26, 2023 attempted coup in Freetown.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (07/06/24)
