By Saio Marrah
Justice Monfred Sesay has recused himself from the trial of Mohamed Aroun Conteh, the school boy charged with the murder of his teacher Edward Gillis Ola Johnson for what the judge described as “personal reason”. He gave no details as he read out a letter addressed to the Chief Justice on Wednesday 8th November 2023. He also discharged the 12 person jury in the trial.
Justice Sesay made the announcement after the State Prosecutor Aruna Jalloh informed the court that despite the fact that his witnesses were present in court he could not proceed to lead them in testimony because he needed to have a conference with them.
The lead defence Lawyer Teddy Koroma, who was not allowed to object to the submission of the prosecution, reminded the court that the prosecution did promise during last Wednesday’s hearing to bring more than one witness to the proceeding.
He said he was surprised that the prosecution failed to have a conference with even the witnesses before coming to court.
Mr. Johnson’s body was in the afternoon of Saturday 11th March, 2023 found in a pool of blood inside a room at his 54 Victoria Street, Freetown residence by neighbours. According to the autopsy, he suffered multiple injuries including a slit throat.
The accused on the same Saturday had reportedly gone to the Aberdeen Police Station where he told officers that the deceased had been attacked by a member of the Operational Support Division (OSD) of the Police. However, a neighbour of the deceased had testified in a Magistrate Court during preliminary hearing that only the accused was seen leaving the house that particular afternoon.
Mr. Johnson was up to his demise, a Teacher at Providence International High School in Freetown where the accused was a pupil. He was a long serving teacher who had before taught in various schools in Freetown. The accused was said to have frequented the deceased’s house for private classes. The teacher’s gruesome killing shocked the nation.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (10/11/23)
