By Saio Marrah
Justice Simeon Alieu on Thursday 19th January ordered a bench warrant for a Juror, Simeon Amara, after he failed to show up in three consecutive sittings in a murder case.
The judge wanted him detained at the Correctional Centre in Freetown for not honouring the High Court No.5 sessions in which an accused Abdulai Koroma is facing a murder trial.
Justice Alieu while pronouncing the bench warrant for contempt of court, said jurors have made it a habit of absenteeism and he was suspending his friendship with jurors until the right things were done.
The Foreman of the jurors, Brima Sama explaining to the court the circumstances of Amara’s absenteeism said after informing the jurors about the court’s sitting via their jurors’ Whatsapp forum, Amara gave an excuse that he will not be available in court until after 12 noon, as he will be going to his office.
The foreman stated he kept calling the juror who declined his calls.
The case upon which they were to sit on involved the murder of Elizabeth Vincent at Femi Turner Drive in Goderich on Saturday 1st January, 2022, which Koroma is accused of commiting.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (23/01/23)
