By Francis H. Murray
Salifu Fofana, the 5th prosecution witness in the murder trial of Vandy Senesie and Ibrahim Kamara for the alleged murder of Abubakarr Fofana has testified before Justice Adrian J. Fisher and a 12-member jury at the High Court in Freetown.
Led in evidence by State Prosecutor A. J. M Bockarie on Friday 12th March 2021, the witness admitted to knowing the deceased as his 27-year old son and recalled that he was at home in Freetown on the 20th February 2020 when at around 11pm he heard a knock on his backdoor.
“I got up from my parlor and went towards the backdoor where I heard the voice of Mohamed Bangura whom I know asking me to open the door and I inquired what was wrong and he told me that my son had been stabbed and left off immediately. I was so confused and tormented that I didn’t know what to do at the time,” he stated.
He said that after a little while, one Lamin Johnson came and reported the same incident, saying that he had come from the hospital and that they needed blood, adding that he gave him some money which he took to the Connaught Hospital where he later went.
He said that when he got there, Lamin took him to the doctor on duty who in turn informed him that his son had passed away. He said: “I asked him where my son was laid and he told me that he had been taken to the mortuary. So I went to the mortuary and met him lying in a pool of blood with stab wounds.’’
The witness added that he left the hospital for the Kissy Police station where he informed the officer on duty who had issued a police medical request form in respect of his son’s incident that he had passed and was advised to come in the morning.
He maintained that on the morning of the 21st February 2020, statement was obtained from him followed by a postmortem examination on the remains of the deceased which was conducted on the 25th March 2020 by doctor Koroma in his presence along with the investigating officer and scene of crime officer.
He further noted that the certified medical cause of death was issued to him together with the corpse of the deceased for burial.
Asked about the whereabouts of Lamin, he said the father of Lamin had told him that he was sick and had been taken to provinces for native medical treatment.
Also, Police Superintendent 10978 attached to the Law Officers Department as Process Server with duties which include to receive subpoena from state Counsels and serve on witnesses and testify in court where necessary, told the court that on the 11th March 2021, when he received a subpoena from one Solomon Christian Kekura to be served on witness Lamin Johnson.
He said that he was unable to effect service on the witness as he was told that he had been taken to the provinces for medication, adding that he returned with the said subpoena to the office.
The matter was adjourned to 19th March 2021.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 15/03/21
