By Francis H. Murray
Roland Wright, the lead defense lawyer for Saa Anthony Sinnah, the second accused in the ongoing treason trial at the High Court in Freetown, has told the twelve-member jury that the prosecution failed to adduce any evidence in support of the charges in the indictment filed against his client.
Addressing the jury on Tuesday, Wright noted that to assassinate the President constitutes murder and does not amount to treason and that it would only become treason when it involves overthrowing an entire government.
He said the first accused didn’t need a license for his gun in order to commit the alleged offense, and that there was no treason because the prosecution had only based their evidence on a desire to assassinate President Bio and his client is charged for executing his statutory mandate as Deputy Commissioner for the Small Arms Commission.
Lawyer Wright said the prosecution was apprehensive to show the video footage of the CCTV camera at the reception area of State House because of the negligence of the security personnel who he said didn’t conduct any further checks on the first accused even after he had voluntarily tendered his personal weapon to them.
He said that at the time the license was issued, the Commissioner relied on the 12-year experience of the 2nd accused and therefore didn’t question his actions at the material time, adding that the permission for the deputy to act in the absence of the commissioner was backed by the law establishing the Small Arms Commission.
Lawyer Amadu Koroma, representing the third accused, Prince George Hughes, also addressed the jury saying that the prosecution had failed in their endeavour to prove the guilt of his client and that no evidence had been put before the court to support count 12 and 13 of the indictment against his client.
He said that his client did not assist the commission of any offense or make any false statement on oath as alleged by the prosecution.
He argued that if the 3rd accused had actually intended to assassinate the President and failed in the process, he wouldn’t have been allowed to walk home on such serious allegations.
He went on to note that his client only acted independently as a referee, adding that none of the witnesses from the prosecution said anything implicating his client throughout the trial and therefore urged the jurors to return a verdict of not guilty on both count.
Presiding judge Momoh Jah Stevens will deliver his summing-up address to the jury today.
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