By Francis H. Murray
The High Court in Freetown has admitted the former Mayor of Freetown Herbert George-Williams to bail along with his co-accused Abu Bakarr Daramy, both of whom are facing two counts charges of murder and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. They were released on a Le500, 000, 000 bond, backed by two sureties in like sum who are to produce one conveyance each for a property registered with the office of the Registrar General.
Justice Cosmotina Jarrett said she was admitting the accused persons to bail on the grounds that the affidavit in opposition to the bail put forward by the prosecution lawyer Umu Sumare was not filed and served on defence lawyers, citing the 2018 bail regulations.
Earlier, Lawyer Melron Nicol Wilson, representing the 1st accused, Daramy, objected to the use of the affidavit in opposition to his bail application filed by the prosecution on the grounds that provisions relating to filing and serving of such an affidavit as required in the bail regulation of 2018 were not followed and called on the judge to discountenance the application.
In his application for bail, Wilson told the court that his client was a Sierra Leonean citizen ordinarily resident in the Wester Area of Freetown and had credible sureties who were willing to comply with the requirements of the court. He said his client will not interfere with prosecution witnesses. He argued that if the bail application was granted it would strengthen the idea of presumption of innocence and ensure a speedy trial.
M. Jalloh, lawyer for the second accused, Williams, applied for bail on grounds of the health condition of his client whom he said was very healthy when he was first arrested but could hardly walk by himself now. He said he urgently needed to seek proper medical attention to be fit to stand trial.
The prosecution alleges that the accused persons: Abu Bakarr Daramy and Herbert George Williams on the 31st of March 2018, in the Western Area of Freetown, murdered journalist Ibrahim Samura.
The matter was adjourned to the 19th August 2020.
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