By Mabinty M. Kamara
The mother of the 13-year old deaf and mute girl who was allegedly raped last year has testified in the ongoing preliminary investigation recalling hearing her daughter screaming as she ran towards her room to stop the accused, Samuel Joseph Bassie, from raping her.
The woman (name withheld) was testifying on Wednesday, the 3rd hearing, before Magistrate Abdul Sherriff of Court Number 3. She was the second witness to testify in the matter which started on March 3rd.
Wednesday’s hearing, like the first, was done behind closed doors, with only the alleged victim, journalists and court officials present. Families of both the accused and the plaintiff were barred from the chamber.
The victim’s mother told the court that on the 10th of October last year, the accused, who was a neighbor and a regular visitor to the compound where she lives with her family, went to her shop located in front of her house together with four others and requested food from her which she prepared for them. She said one of the other people with the accused told her to ignore the request because they had enough food at home.
She said as she took the food back to her house the accused pursued her, insisting he was hungry. She told the court that at this point she warned the accused not to enter her house and urged her children to be alert and to inform her if Bassie returned to the house.
The woman said that about 30 minutes after the confrontation with the accused, her second daughter rushed to inform her that the accused had entered her sister’s room where the alleged victim was in bed studying. She said that on her way to the house, she heard her daughter screaming which caused her to move stealthily barefooted and opened the door, which was half closed with the lights turned off. She said when she turned the light on she saw the accused on top of her daughter with his pants down.
Under cross examination by Lawyer Michael Charles the witness said her relationship with accused and the congregation of the church they both attended and that she left of her own volition and without malice.
The case was adjourned to Wednesday, 18th March, when the police investigator is expected to take the witness box.
Last week the accused was granted bail by Magistrate Sheriff, in the absence of the witnesses and the prosecutor.
Police Gloria Macaulay is prosecuting with layer Charles Vandy associating.
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