By Mohamed T Massaquoi
Police in Pujehun have confirmed the death of a 25-year-old woman who was allegedly stabbed by a 14-year-old pupil of the Methodist Secondary School in Bo.
Jebbeh Shiaka was allegedly stabbed with a long kitchen knife at Madinma Kodogbe village in the Kpanga Kabondeh chiefdom, about 15 miles from Pujehun town.
The crime officer at the Pujehun police division, Sergeant David Hollist disclosed to Politico that the incident occurred on the 14th June, 2014 at about 8 pm and the accused died at the Pujehun district hospital.
He said investigations so far revealed that the incident started in a fit of ‘’jealousy which ended in a quarrel between the accused and the deceased for the heart of one Shiaka French, the husband of the deceased with whom he has four children".
Sgt Hollist said Shiaka and the 14-year-old accused were in police custody as investigations was continuing.
"My daughter is the only hope I have to take care of my responsibilities at my age" Foday Sulaiman, the father of the deceased told Politico, adding: "the matter must be dealt with to my satisfaction".
Fatmata Koroma, mother of the 14-year-old accused, said "my daughter is a juvenile who was humiliated by family members of the deceased before she was arrested". She said: "I warned Shiaka French on several occasions to leave my daughter alone because she is still in school".
Town Chief Senesie Taluva told Politico that he tried to settle the quarrel by inviting the two parties during his investigation and that he levied a fine of Le30, 000 on each party but, according to him, the fighting resumed inside the Court Barry resulting in "bloodshed".
Chairman of the Civil Society Coalition in Pujehun district, Ibrahim Swaray described the incident as "unfortunate and disheartening".
He commended the police for "acting promptly" by arresting the two people for questioning. "Our image in Pujehun district is really bad as we are now at the top for crimes like murder and sexual abuse of under-aged girls" he said.
He attributed this to "the absence of a police post at chiefdom level in the district and a resident magistrate". He said civil society in Pujehun would meet soon to map out ways of helping the police reduce crime in the district.
(C) Politico 19/06/14
