By Ibrahim Kabba Turay
Abu Bakarr Kanu, a Businessman was convicted and sentenced to Forty Five years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty of killing his Neighbor Kadia Kargbo at waterloo, Western Urban District in Freetown
He was initially charged with murder but the charge was apparently changed after the prosecution, P. Hasting Spaine, pleaded with the Bench to try him by judge alone instead of judge and jury.
Kanu, 38, was before the court for the death of his neighbor, Kadia Kargbo. The matter which was presided over by Justice A.S Allieu, was tried at the High Court in Freetown.
Prosecution says the convict on 23rd May, 2021, murdered his Neighbor Kadia Kargbo in Waterloo, Western Rural District.
In his confessional statement to the police, the accused agreed that he killed his Neigbor after they had an altercation.
Meanwhile, before the sentencing, defense counsel, H Kamara, from the Legal Aid Board noted in his plea of mitigation that his client had been of good conduct whilst in detention.
The attorney reminded the court that the deceased left three children who needed parental care, thus pleading with the court to temper justice with mercy by giving the convict a lesser punishment.
Justice Alieu noted that the convict had pleaded guilty to the offence during the trial and conducted himself well during the trial, but that he wanted the state to keep him because the deceased’s family was out there waiting on the outcome of the trial.
“I have looked into the manner in which the convict killed the deceased, because of argument between the decease and him. As a result, I will sentence him to forty five years imprisonment,” he ruled.
