𝐁𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐁. 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐲.
The Chief Medical Examiner at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Government Consultant Pathologist, Dr Simeon Owizz Koroma has confirmed performing autopsy examinations on those who died in the incident of the November 26, 2023, attempted coup in Freetown.
Leading evidence as the 35th prosecution witness in the ongoing Court Martial trial of 27 military officers, Dr Koroma said he was required to perform postmortem and establish the cause of death which includes the manner and mode of death.
Following the November 26 incident, the witness said he was able to ascertain the cause of death on the corps he examined.
He recalled performing a postmortem on the mortal remains of Lieutenant Colonel Wilfred Sao Samai, John Robert Mboma, Khalifa Kelly Marrah, and Thomas Rogers at the 34 Military Hospital in Freetown.
And after which reduced his findings to autopsy report dated December 15, 2023, and issued the medical cause of death certificate to the requesting institution, the Sierra Leone Police, and the family for proper burial.
The cause of death he said was due to a bullet injury received during the incident, and in his expert opinion, the death of those examined was homicide due to gunshots sustained and not natural.
