By Janet Sesay
Justice Alusine Sesay of the High Court yesterday opened the Criminal Session matters at the High Court with two hundred and eight cases lined up for trials.
During the opening session, a lactating mother, who identified herself as Kadiatu Mansaray, was granted bail for the offence of murder. She was charged to court on a count of murder contrary to law. Court details state that the accused, on 15th July 2018 at Pipe Line, Mount Aureol in Freetown, murdered Alpha Kamara.
The states prosecutor, O.V. Robin Mason, informed the court that the accused was charged for the offence of murder. He said no plea should be taken.
Holding her daughter in her arms, the accused pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy. She added that she did not do the act intentionally. She stated that she was pregnant at the time, but was arrested and brought to court and sent to prison. According to her, she gave birth in prison and the child is now four months old.
Having listened to her explanation, Justice Alusine stated that this is modern times and such things should not happen. He said that a pregnant woman should not be kept in prison.
Justice Alusine Sesay granted the accused forty million leones bail and two sureties in like sum. The sureties should be resident in Freetown and the bail should be approved by the Acting Master and Registrar. The matter was adjourned to the 28th May 2019 for commencement at the High Court.
Also, an eighteen year old man, who identified himself as Thaimu Bangura, was charged with the offence of office breaking and larceny but was discharged by the judge.
After the charges were read to the accused he pleaded guilty to the offence. Defense counsel Cecilia Tucker from the Legal Aid Board made a plea of mitigation on behalf of the accused. She said that he is a first time offender and has also not wasted the precious time of the court.
She said she knows that the offence is a very serious one, but she is pleading with the bench to temper justice with mercy on him as he is a school going pupil in JSS2.
She furthered that the accused was arrested and charged to court on the 24th November 2018. He was refused bail and the matter was committed to the High Court for further trial in December 2018. The accused also pleaded with the judge for mercy and promised not to repeat the act again.
Justice Alusine Sesay cautioned the accused to take his life serious, and that he should not repeat the act again. Considering the time that he has spent in prison he subsequently sentenced him to six months imprisonment.
In the case of the murder trial of Madison Bio, defense counsel for the accused, Ibrahim Tommy, made bail application on behalf of the first accused, Francis Mafinda. He stated that throughout the preliminary investigation, at the Magistrate Court, the evidences of all the witnesses did not indict the first accused. He pleaded with the judge to grant the first accused bail.
The accused were charged to court on two counts of conspiracy to murder and murder, contrary to law. Court details state that the accused, on the 11th February 2019 in Freetown, conspired together with other persons unknown to murder Madison Bio.
The accused are Francis Mafinda, Dennis Holland, Lawrence Lahai Amara, Mukeh Foh, Abassie Sesay and David Ricott Olatunde Williams.
After listening to the bail application, Justice Alusine Sesay stated that the offence for which they were charged is very serious and the first accused is jointly charged with the other accused on the offence of conspiracy and murder. Because of same he will not grant bail.
The matter was adjourned to the 28th May 2019.