By Francis H. Murray
Justice Ivan Ansumana Sesay of the high court in Freetown has sentenced one Davida Jones to 10 years imprisonment after the court found her guilty of a two count indictment of attempted child stealing and attempted human trafficking.
In his judgment on Wednesday 8th July, Justice Sesay said he was satisfied that the prosecution proved their case beyond all reasonable doubts against the 26-year old.
Evidence before the court showed that on the 16th of September 2019 in Freetown, Jones attempted to take away the victim – an under-aged child, with the intention to steal him.
The Police also alleged that the convict on the same date attempted to engage in the trafficking of the victim by taking him with her through deception.
In his testimony, the victim recognized the convict and told the court that he met her at the Lowcost Housing market in September 2019, and that he was 12 years then. He said the convict had told him that she wanted to send him on an errand to her boyfriend to deliver her yellow lady’s bag.
For her part, the convict had told the police that she had brought the victim to Freetown from the provinces, which the boy denied, saying she convinced him to follow her to an unknown destination.
The legal Aid Board lawyer pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy and to give the accused “a sentence that would give her the opportunity to go back to society and make good use of what would be left of her life.” She added that the time the accused had spent in the correctional center had helped her reform her life and be remorseful.
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