By Musa Paul Feika
A commercial bike rider, Abubakarr Bangura, has testified before Magistrate Alhaji Suliaman Koroma, of Ross Road Magistrate Court No. 1, in the ongoing murder matter involving two accused, namely Vandi Senesis and Ibrahim Kamara, who are charged with the offence of murder, an offence which is contrary to law.
The witness continued his testimony that he recognized both the accused as well as the deceased, Abubakarr Fofanah, and could recall Thursday February, 2020.
According to him, on that fateful day, he was at home around 10:00pm, adding that he later went out to buy mosquito coil in the neighborhood.
Mr. Bangura added that, on his way to the shop, he saw the 1st accused, Vandi Senesis, running towards him, panting. He said he asked the accused what was the matter, but he said the accused failed to respond to him.
The witness told the court that he saw the 1st accused entering into one of the nearby welding shops within the community. He said, after few seconds, the 1st accused came out and rushed in again with a glass in his hand.
The witness said, along the way, he came across a small boy, who gave him information that the accused and the deceased were fighting. He said upon receiving the information, he immediately went to the alleged crime scene at Whenzle Street, Kissy in Freetown.
Mr. Bangura detailed the court that, upon his arrival, he saw the accused, the deceased and two other men, who were trying to separate the accused and the deceased. According to him, he joined the two men in order to separate them.
The witness said he had held the deceased, Abubakarr Fofanah, firmly and drew closer to him and advised him to go home, which, he said, he did.
The witness said, after the deceased had left the crime scene, the 1st accused, Vandi Senesis, was still adamant while he was under the protection of the two men, asking them to release him to chase the deceased.
Mr. Bangura said the two men released the 1st accused and he started going towards the direction of the deceased. He furthered that the accused ran after him, even though he had advised him strongly not to chase the deceased. But the accused said, “I will kill Abubakarr Fofanah,” now a deceased.
The witness concluded his testimony noting that, after fifteen minutes, one of his friends, Lamin, gave him information that the accused had allegedly stabbed the deceased. “I immediately left for the crime scene, where I saw blood stains on the ground. But neither the accused nor the deceased was anywhere to be found,” the witness told the court.
He said he made a statement at the Kissy Police Division in Freetown. The accused were unrepresented.
During cross examination, the 1st accused asked the witness to describe the colour of the trousers he wore that day. In his response, the witness said he was wearing black trousers.
According to police charge sheet, Vandi Senesis and Ibrahim Kamara, on the 20th February, 2020, at Whenzle Street Kissy in Freetown, murdered Abubakarr Fofanah.
The accused were refused bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre, Pademba Road in Freetown.
The matter will come up again on 18th September, 2020.