By Francis H. Murray
Defense lawyers of some members of the KLYMAX Fraternity of Fourah Bay College (FBC) have opened their case in an ongoing murder trial before Justice Ivan Sesay at the High Court in Freetown.
On Thursday 9th July, Lawyer Ibrahim Tommy, who represents the first accused Francis Mafinda, told the court that his client relied on the statement he made to the police and will not be calling any witnesses.
Lawyer E. S Marrah, who represents the five other accused persons, said the second accused, Dennis Holland, will give evidence from the witness box but will not call any witnesses and that his other clients would rely on the statements they made to the police.
Prosecutor Jessie Tucker pleaded for the matter to be adjourned because the case had just been assigned to him and that he would need to study the files.
Justice Sesay ordered the state to prepare by the next hearing, which is today, Monday 13th July, for the matter to proceed.
State prosecutors allege that the accused persons in July 2018 at Gloucester in the rural part of the Western Area, conspired with other persons unknown to murder one Albert Madinson Bio during an initiation ceremony of members of the KLYMAX Fraternity which operates at FBC.
Francis Mafinda, Dennis Holland, Lawrence Lahai Amara, Abassie Sesay, Mukeh Foh and David Williams face a two count charge of conspiracy to commit a crime and murder. They all pleaded not guilty when the charges were initially put to them at the start of the High Court trial.
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