By Mohamed Foday Conteh
The trial for the murdered Rtd. Army Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General Samuel Omar Williams has commenced at the High Court in Freetown. The murder case resumed on Thursday 15th July, 2021.
The former CDS was said to have been gunned down on Thursday 22nd December 2016 at his residence at Devil Hole community, not too far from Waterloo, in the Western Rural District of Sierra Leone.
According to the particulars of offence, Ibrahim Kalokoh, Festus Mansaray, Alhaji Steven Bangura and Alpha Umaru Jalloh were charged for conspiracy to commit murder and robbery with aggravation contrary to law.
The matter started at the magistrate court sometime in 2017 with a preliminary investigation then presided over by Abou Bhakarr Binneh-Kamara. The matter then proceeded to the High Court of Justice Manuela Harding.
Several witnesses including one Abdulai Barrie, who was at the said crime scene on the night the Gen. Williams was shot, and one Oladele Cole and Issa Kamara both phone mechanics, had testified in court about how phones stolen from the said crime scene got to them.
The matter is now before Justice Simeon Allieu for trial. Last week, the State led in their first prosecution witness who testified in court. Police Detective 12957 Koroma Brima had told the court that he recalled on the 21st December, 2016 when one Major Bockarie Conteh reported the killing of the former CDS.
Koroma said that he was part of a team of detectives that visited the said crime scene where they met the victim in a pool of blood. He said they had taken photos of the said body and the alleged crime scene. He had told the court the remains of the CDS were taken to the Connaught Morgue where a post mortem was conducted by pathologist, Dr.Simeon Owizz Koroma.
Justice Allieu pointed out that the state should not waste time in prosecuting a matter that has taken so much time, so that justice can be administered. The case comes up again on the 22nd July 2021.
Copyright © Politico Online (16/07/21)
