By Francis H. Murray
Kelfala Mansaray was on Tuesday 26th January jailed four years by Justice Reginald Fynn at the High Court in Freetown after he pleaded guilty to a four count indictment including attempt to strangle, wounding with intent and murder.
Mansaray told the court that the complainant, Kelly Kamara was his roommate whom he took in for free because he had no shelter at the time. He said even against several warnings by his Landlady against smoking in the compound, Kamara (his roommate) did not desist which resulted in the house owner threatening him with a quit notice.
He said his last attempt to confront the complainant about the issue resulted in a fight and that during the struggle he realized Kamara had a pen in hand and was attempting to stab him with it. He said he managed to get hold of Kamara’s as a means of defending himself resulting in the complainant sustaining injuries.
In his plea mitigation, defense lawyer from Legal Aid, Mamoud Karimu pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy and not to hand down a custodial sentence against him, describing his client was a first time offender who had not wasted the court’s time.
Mansaray will serve time at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown.
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