By Aminata Phidelia Allie
Seven accused persons are currently standing trial at the Magistrate Court No. 2 in Freetown for the alleged murder of late pharmacist, Adeyemi Justine Patrick Johnson.
The accused persons, who have been standing trial since December last year before Magistrate Komba Kamanda, were charged with four count of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, larceny and arson.
Detective Police Sergeant 4865 Alie Sankoh, attached to the Criminal Investigations Department, Congo Cross Division testified as prosecution witness and explained that while on duty on 13 November 2012, one Mr. Sylvanus went to the station and reported a case of murder.
He said a team of six police officers, headed by a crime officer, went to the crime scene at Old Railway Line, Wilberforce where the alleged murder took place. Upon reaching the residence of the deceased he said, Mr. Sylvanus showed them into the house where everything was “out of order”.
“I also observed that the door had been removed and placed elsewhere”, he said.
In the room which he said was filled with smoke, he said that he saw an adult male corpse lying face down on the bed with his hands tied behind his back.
“His feet were also tied and I also noticed a wound at the back of his head. When he was turned over I saw his mouth plastered and there was a container that smelled of petrol beside the bed”, the prosecution witness said.
He said the corpse was identified by Mr. Sylvanus as Mr. Adeyemi Johnson, adding that the corpse was taken to the Connaught Hospital for post-mortem.
The matter comes up again today, 7 March 2013.
