๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐. ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐๐ฒ.
Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens, a Court of Appeal Judge, sitting as High Court Judge in Freetown has acquitted and discharged two accused persons Gbessay Kargbo and Amadu Bailor Jalloh โAlias Networkโ of one count charge of murder.
They were discharged on a not guilty verdict delivered by a twelve-man jury panel, acting as Judges of Fact in the matter between the State against the now acquitted accused.
Gbessay Kargbo, and Amadu Bailor Jalloh aka โNetworkโ sometime in March, 2022 made their first appearance at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court before Magistrate Mark Ngegba on a Preliminary Investigation (PI) of murder and conspiracy to commit murder contrary to law.
In the Police charge sheet, it is alleged that both accused on the 9th March, 2022 in Freetown murdered Ahmed Boie Kamara at his private residence.
At the Magistrate Court, witnesses including the Government Consultant Pathologist and forensic expert, Doctor Simeon Owizz Koroma led evidence on oath. In his testimony in Court, Dr. Owizz Koroma confirmed the death of the now deceased to be unnatural.
The accused were later committed for trial at the High Court on the grounds of having a case to answer.
The Chief Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards assigned the case to Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens for trial.
In his summing up address to members of the Jury panel, Justice Stevens reminded them that the two accused Gbessay Kargbo and Amadu Bailor Jalloh โAlias Networkโ were facing two counts of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The Judge states that the prosecution called several witnesses to establish their case against both accused.
The State prosecutor, Mohamed Pious Sesay, in his opening address said, after the deceased had testified against the first defendant in a land matter the accused threatened that that will be his last testimony in court.
The second accused aka โNetworkโ who was then a defendant in a civil matter was seen with others at Madonkeh Village beating the now deceased at the same time saying to the deceased that he would never be a witness in court again.
The now accused were seen leaving the village with the two motor bikes they came with.
Justice Stevens told the jury that after looking at the law and listening to the evidence, itโs upon them the jury to consider their verdict of guilty or not.
The jurors were taken to a private place to decide the faith of the accused upon their return they unanimously delivered a verdict of not guilty on both counts.
The Judge was left with no option but to acquit and discharged the accused persons.
