By Francis H. Murray
The Resident High Court Judge presiding over Port Loko District and covering the towns of Kambia, Lungi, Lunsar, Masiaka and Port Loko city, Justice Abdul Sheriff has sentenced Abdulai Salieu Kamara popularly known as “Loketo” to death by hanging following his conviction of the offence of murder.
A jury unanimously returned a guilty verdict against the 29-year old in respect of the offence charged.
In delivering his judgement which followed his summing up address to the jurors, Justice Sheriff said the convict entered a not guilty plea at the time of his arraignment, adding that the decision was reached in consideration of the verdict arrived at by the jury and the malicious manner with which the said murder was committed.
The deceased was a niece to the convict Loketo, who is a farmer in Senthai village and believed to have reportedly beheaded 6-year old Elizabeth Kamara out of malice following allegation from a sorcerer that the deceased’s father bewitched his (accused) wife and children.
During the course of the trial, State Prosecutor M. P. M Lappia led in evidence a total of eight witnesses including both factual and formal witnesses.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, the defence Lawyer M. Korie disclosed that the accused relied entirely on his statement to the police which followed his final oral submission.
The Prosecution had alleged that Abdulai Salieu Kamara on the 5th day of September 2020, at Kambia Section, Magbema Chiefdom in Kambia District in the North-West Province of Sierra Leone murdered six years old Elizabeth Kamara.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (31/03/21)
