By Saio Marrah
A magistrate in Freetown has discharged one Salamatu Conteh who was facing preliminary investigations for the alleged killing of one Musa Dumbuya because the prosecution failed to produce witnesses since the commencement of the investigation.
This ruling came on Wednesday 18th October 2023, after the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, asked for an adjournment saying that there were no witnesses.
“What is wrong with the witnesses?” Magistrate Mark Ngegba asked. She responded by saying, “We have been calling, but they have not been cooperating”.
The magistrate then told the court that, “since there is no witness since the commencement of the investigation, I hereby discharge the accused.”
21-year-old Salamatu Conteh, who was in a blue hijab, instantly left the dock praising God while weeping.
This is the sixth consecutive hearing when police failed to bring their witnesses except that on the fourth appearance a police investigator was brought in but the magistrate rejected that, insisting that the prosecution must produce a factual witness or he would discharge the accused.
When Magistrate Ngegba expressed dismay over the inability of the police to produce their witnesses during one of the sessions, the Head of Sierra Leone Police Legal Affairs, Chief Superintendent of Police, Joan Bull promised to brief the Inspector General of Police on the matter for action to be taken.
The prosecutors had alleged that the killing took place at 18A Sumaila Town in Freetown on 16 July this year.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (23/10/23)
