By Abass Jalloh
Principal Magistrate, Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown has instructed the Prosecution in the ongoing trial of Kassim Watfa over the alleged murder of Sergeant Mahmoud Barrie, a soldier of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), to do a follow up at the psychiatric hospital and the Correctional Centre about Watffa’s mental state, by Monday 29th August 2022.
It could be recalled that on the 12th July 2022, the magistrate granted an application by the defense counsel, Francis Gabbidon for the accused to be sent to the Kissy Psychiatric hospital in Freetown for a period of 30 days to be observed or treated since being claimed of an unsound mind.
During proceedings on Monday 22nd August 2022, Gabbidon informed the court that the order of the said bench had not been complied with and therefore urged for the prison to act upon it.
Watffa is before the court to answer to charges of murder, wounding and assault contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The charge sheet stated that on Tuesday 17th May 2022 at Davies Drive, Hill station, Freetown, the accused murdered Sgt. Barrie.
According to the sheet, the accused also maliciously assaulted and wounded another soldier Sgt. Samuel Tucker thereby occasioning actual bodily harm.
The accused was refused bail and remanded.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Christiana Davies Cole.
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