By Mohamed Foday Conteh
Three witnesses have testified before Justice Komba Kamanda of the High Court No.2 in Freetown in a robbery with aggravation trial allegedly committed by one Mustapha Kabba.
The first witness to be summoned to the dock was Detective Superintendent Bangura A.K, a firearm examiner attached to the Scientific Support Department at the CID Headquarters. Bangura stated that he has been a firearm examiner for the past three years.
The Detective Superintendent acknowledged that on the 16th September, 2020 he examined a firearm, to which he made a report of it on the 25th September, 2020. Prosecuting Counsel, Yada Williams, asked for the specification of the said firearm. Bangura responded that the firearm is a powerline (ball bearing) daisy outdoor semiautomatic with serial no. 72757.
H.M Momoh, the Defense Counsel, cross examining Bangura, enquired as to whether his report included a finger print analysis of the said weapon. Bangura replied that the examination of the weapon was only limited to the physical characteristics of the weapon.
Hannah Quee, the second witness, who was a domestic worker at the alleged crime scene at the time of the event, said that at around 7 to 8 in the morning while on duty, she heard the door bell and thought it was Alfred, the grandson of the alleged victim, Dr. Kitty Fadlu Deen. She said as she went out to rinse the bucket with which she was moping with, she met a heavily built dark man coming from upstairs. Hannah said the man greeted her and rushed for a car. Quee said that the man then hooted the horn for the security to open the gate. She said the security opened the gate and the said man rushed out of the compound in a flash.
Hannah said that as she went inside, she heard cries of the alleged victim and she instantly rushed to summon Alfred and Yasmin grandchildren of Dr. Fadlu Deen, the alleged victim. She said they rushed upstairs and found the alleged victim tied and with toilet paper stuffed in her mouth. After they untied her, she told them that the said man was a thief and that her car has been stolen. Hannah said she could not recognize the alleged assailant because he had face mask and dark glasses.
The third witness DPC Turay Sheku was attached to the Scientific Support Unit at the Lumley Police Station at the time of the event explained to the court that he had been at the said crime scene on the 1st September 2020 after a case of robbery with aggravation was reported. He said that at the crime scene, with colleague officers, he met Dr. Fadlu Deen and her grandson who showed them the alleged crime scene which was on the second floor of the residence.
He said there were blisters on the neck and on one arm of the alleged victim. Turay said he saw a white towel on the ground with what appeared to be blood stain on it. He said he took photos of all these to which he made available to the Police scene of crime photograph album.
State Counsel, Yada Williams, then asked that the said photos that were tagged as exhibits J10, J11 and J12 be shown to the jurors. The said exhibits contained pictures of the face, arm and back of the woman, allegedly being injuries incurred during scuffle with the accused.
During cross-examination by Defense Counsel H.M. Momoh, it was made known by DPC Sheku Turay that there was no sign of forced entry based on examination conducted on the doors of the said crime scene.
Dr. Fadlu Deen is a well- known academic and music tutor at the Ballanta Music Academy in Freetown.
Justice Komba Kamanda adjourned the matter to the 27th May, 2021 with the accused being remanded in custody at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online
