By Abass Jalloh
Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Road Court No. 1 has transferred to the High Court of Sierra Leone a matter relating to the death of a nine-year-old boy who was allegedly murdered at a nearby stream in Bonthe district.
Two men Lansana Conteh and Tawakatu Conteh were charged over the murder of Magaya Conteh.
The alleged crime reportedly happened on Tuesday 16th November 2021 at Blama village in the Yumbeku chiefdom in Bonthe district.
Magistrate Ngegba stated that the case is transferred to the High Court of Sierra Leone because it is a murder.
Yesterday the complainant, who is the father of the child, led by Prosecutor Christiana Davies Cole, testified in court in the Mende language which the accused men could also speak, and also translated into Krio.
Breaking down intermittently in court, the complainant recalled leaving home to look for his fishing net and later returned but could not find his son Magaya at home.
He said before leaving his house, he left the boy in the care of his younger brother, Tawakatu (the second accused), and on his return asked him about his child but his brother could not tell him where he was.
The complainant said initially they looked for Magaya in the village, but later reported his disappearance to the town chief who initiated a search team for two days until a boy named Moriba found his body by a stream.
The complainant said they gave one of the men a pair of gloves to get the body out. He claimed he saw bleeding from the mouth and the remains were then taken away and the matter was reported to the Mattru Jong Police station.
During cross-examination, the first accused, who was without a defense lawyer, asked the complainant about the time the said incident happened. The complainant responded that it was about around 3 p.m.
The complainant said he could not tell whether the accused was around while the search was ongoing and said he could not recall many things because his mind was deeply troubled at the time about his child.
The second accused, who is an uncle to the late boy, also without a defense lawyer, asked the complainant if they both live in the same house. The complainant responded that the accused lives at their family house while he lives at his own house.
The boy’s father confirmed that he left the child with Tawakatu.
The father also said the body was examined and that the eyes of the child were blurred and his tongue slightly out of his mouth.
It was not stated when the matter now committed to the high court will commence sittings.
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