By Janet A. Sesay
The May 2021 Criminal Sessions, presided over by Justice Alusine Sesay, started on Monday 17th May 2021 where seventy-six cases are set for trial at the High Court, the Nightwatch can report. It stems from a committal form signed by both the accused and the Magistrates at the Magistrate Court.
The cases to be tried include murder, robbery with aggravation, wounding with intent and malicious damage, among others.
In this year’s Criminal sessions, wounding with intent tops the chart of sixteen cases, followed by twelve cases of robbery, eight cases of murder, five cases of fraudulent conversation, five cases of house breaking and larceny, shop breaking and larceny, burglary, conspiracy and sexual penetration, among others.
During the Sessions, Bockarie Quee was standing trial before the Judge on a count of larceny of cattle.
It was alleged that the accused, on 5th September 2020 in Freetown, stole a goat valued at one million, five hundred thousand Leones. Shortly after the charge was put to him, the accused pleaded not guilty of the offence.
Defense Counsel Cecilia Tucker made an application for bail on behalf of the accused. She canvassed that he was a first time offender and has been in custody since the inception of the matter.
State prosecutor, Joseph Sesay, said the bench is left with the discretion to assess the application made by defense counsel for bail.
Justice Alusine Sesay granted the accused two million Leones bail and one surety in like sum. The surety should be resident in the Western area, and bail should be approved by the Master and Registrar of the High Court.
The matter was allocated to Justice Augustine Musa for hearing and was adjourned to the 24th May 2021.