By Musa Paul Feika
Osman Foday Daboh has been arraigned before Magistrate Wilbri Hamida John, at the Ross Road Magistrate Court No. 1, for allegedly wounding and assaulting Hassan Bangura (the complainant), in a manner thereby causing him grievous bodily harm.
The police prosecution witness, Detective Sergeant 8765, Mariama Bangura, attached to the Family Support Unit (FSU), at the Kissy Police Station in Freetown, told the bench that she recognized the accused and could recall 30th July, 2020.
She said, on that day, she was on duty at the aforesaid unit, the Kissy Police Station, when a case of an inquiry file, which contained the complainant`s statement, an endorsed medical paper and photographs of the victim, was assigned to her for investigation by the Junior Police Officer, whose name was not mentioned.
She noted that, on the same date, she obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused, and, at the end of the statement, the accused admitted it to be true and correct by affixing his right hand thumbprint, which was witnessed by Detective Police Constable 10118 Sesay J.K.
The voluntary caution statement was produced and tendered to form part of the court`s records.
On the 11th December, 2020, Madam Bangura said she charged the accused with the offences of wounding with intent, wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which are all contrary to Section 47 of the Offences against the Persons Act of 1861.
The police charge sheet states that Osman Foday Daboh, on Tuesday 28th July, 2020, at No. 348 Bai Bureh Road, Wellington in Freetown, wounded and assaulted Hassan Bangura, in a manner thereby causing him grievous bodily harm. Bail of the accused remains in force and the matter was adjourned to 12th May, 2021.