By Francis H. Murray
The trial of Alpha Yayah Kanu alias Y2K and nine others for the alleged murder of Mohamed Kallon alias Mende Boy has started with Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay presiding with a 12-member jury at the High Court in Freetown.
In his opening address to the jurors on Thursday 4th March 2021, lead State Counsel Jesse S. Tucker said that the accused persons facing a three count indictment of conspiracy to murder, murder and burying a human body in a place other than a cemetery for which they had entered a not-guilty plea.
The 1st Prosecution witness Superintendent 3002 Tamba Patrick Kangbai now attached to Kissy Police CID recognized all accused persons and noted that his previous posting was at Adonkia Police station.
He recalled that he was on duty on the 5th April 2020 at the Adonkia Police Station when the Operation Officer Superintendent Sumana instructed him to join a combined team of detectives and general duty personnel to visit a scene at Upper Baw Baw.
He said upon arrival, they met one Alex Issah Bangura, the headman of the community and one Marcus Kamara who informed them that a certain murder had occurred in the area and that the victim was Mohamed Kallon alias Mende Boy.
He said they were later led by the two men to a makeshift structure which was owned by the deceased which he observed as having been damaged and some properties burnt down. He said they took photographs of the scene.
The witness added that they were again led into a certain forest called Jeff town where Marcus identified an old charcoal pit, in which he said the deceased was buried and snapshots of the said pit were also taken followed by several arrests.
Superintendent Kangbai said a request was written to the government pathologist Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma for the body to be exhumed and for autopsy to be performed.
Detective Kangbai went on to note that on the 6th April 2020, the pathologist and his team went to Jeff town and exhumed the body and conveyed to the Connaught Hospital.
He told the court that on the 8th of the April 2020, he witnessed the autopsy along with the Scene of Crime Officer and they took snapshots during the process, adding that at the conclusion, the cause of death certificate was issued to him.
He said from the 5th-9th of April 2020, together with other officers he obtained contemporaneous interviews with all accused persons separately, adding that on the 1st of May 2020, he received a USB flash drive from one Esau Kamara, an uncle to the deceased which contained a recorded voice audio as a dying declaration of the deceased.
He said they obtained a statement from Esau and the flash drive withheld and that on the 19th May 2020 they separately obtained charge statements from the accused persons.
Lawyer from Legal Aid Board Cecelia Tucker is defending the accused persons.
The matter was adjourned to the 11th March 2021.
The prosecution alleges Alpha Yayah Kanu alias Y2K, Abdulai Barrie, Foday Sannoh, Gbessay Kamara, John Desmond Koroma, James Sesay, Mohamed Daboh, Amadu Wurie, Mustapha Karim alias Wizzy and Abass Kamara alias Cartel on the 5th April 2020, in the Western Area of Freetown conspired together, murdered and buried Mohamed Kallon alias Mende Boy in a place other than a cemetery.
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