By Francis H. Murray
The trial of the former mayor of Freetown Herbert George-Williams and the Public Relations Officer of the opposition APC in the Western Area Abu Bakarr Daramy has been adjourned because of lack of jurors.
The accused persons who face a two-count indictment of murder and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, made their second appearance before Justice Augustine Musa at the High Court in Freetown on Wednesday 19th August 2020.
Lansanah Dumbuya, lead lawyer for the for the 1st accused applied for the prosecution to serve them with the deposition of his client and for his client’s mobile phone which was taken away from him at the time of arrest and investigation to be returned, arguing that the said phone was not an exhibit before the court.
Justice Musa ordered that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) hand over the mobile phone allegedly taken away from the second accused Abu Bakarr Daramy.
Minutes after the matter was mentioned, the registrar informed the court the required number of jurors has not been reached to proceed with the matter. Justice Musa expressed frustration that the court couldn’t go on with the matter due to the lack of jurors which he considered as a waste of the court's time, citing the seriousness of the indictment. He then instructed the registrar to liaise with the Undersheriff of the High Court to assemble the needed number of jurors on the 26th August 2020.
These accused persons were granted Le 500 million bail on their previous appearance before Justice Cosmotina Garrett.
The State alleges that on the 31st March 2018, both accused murdered the former managing Editor of the New Age Newspaper Ibrahim Samura.
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