By Mohamed J. Kargbo
Prosecution Witness 5, Chernor Kamara, continued his testimony in a murder case before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1. The case involves six accused persons charged with the murder of James Conteh, also known as James Okeke, in Accession Town.
During his testimony, Kamara stated that he knew the deceased as a friend and an elder brother. He testified that the deceased was a welder and not a resident or worker in the Accession Town Cemetery area.
Recalling the night of the incident, Kamara explained that he heard noises coming from the cemetery and went to investigate. Upon arrival, he witnessed the accused persons assaulting the deceased.
He stated that some of the accused were armed, with one holding a stone and another wielding a cutlass. When he asked them to stop, they refused, saying, “Na dem dey gee we bad name na ya” (They are the ones tarnishing our reputation here).
Kamara further revealed that he recorded a video of the incident, which he later handed over to the police along with his phone. When cross-examined by defense counsel representing the first, third, fourth, and fifth accused, Kamara admitted that he did not report the incident to the police that night because he was under the influence of alcohol.
The defense counsel for the second and sixth accused, J.M. Koffie, also cross-examined the witness on his testimony.
The six accused persons, identified as Hassan Kamara alias Shine Face, Fatmata Turay, Brima Kamara, Brima Tarawally, Abubakarr Kamara, and Samuel Turay, are charged with conspiracy to murder and murder, contrary to Section 4 and Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, as amended by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act of 2021.
Magistrate Kekura denied bail for all accused, remanding them to the Male and Female Correctional Centers in Freetown. The case was adjourned to February 3, 2025, for further hearings.
