By Janet A Sesay
Sierra Leone’s Pathologist, Dr Simeon Owizz Koroma, has testified in the ongoing murder trial of Zaioux Sesay. He made his testimony before Justice Monfred Sesay.
The deceased was allegedly murdered by the accused, including Daniel Sellu, John Junior Kamara, Albert Momoh and four others, two years back while they allegedly tried to rob him.
One of the accused died in custody, while the trial was in progress. The murder trial was initially heard in the lower court before being committed to the High Court.
The Pathologist’s testimony centered on the autopsy he conducted on the remains of Zaioux Sesay, which findings he tendered in court as evidence. Zaioux Sesay’s death, according to Dr Owizz Koroma, was unnatural.
“There was a 2cm deep wound on the head and an extremely shattered skull and brains due to the shot,” DrOwizz disclosed.
The Pathologist further told the court that, on the 20thof February, 2020, upon the instructions of the Chief Corona, he performed an autopsy examination at the Connaught Hospital Mortuary on the remains of Zioux Sesay. He said after the postmortem examination he reduced his findings to a postmortem report. He said he issued the original medical certificate, showing cause of death, to the relatives for proper burial. He said he also gave the photocopy to the police officers for safe keeping.
The accused, Daniel Sellu, John Junior Kamara, Albert Momoh, Alfred James Momoh, Mohammed Fernando Kanu, Christopher Sellu and Alfred Sullay Momoh yesterday made their second appearance before Justice MonfredSesay of the Freetown High Court for allegedly murdering Zaioux Sesay after shooting him with a gun on his head.
Before the commencement of the matter, State prosecutor, Joseph Sesay, stated that the accused are standing trial on three counts indictment with the offences of conspiracy to murder, murder and robbery with aggravation.
He said conspiracy in law is an agreement between two or more people to do an unlawful act by an unlawful means. He said to establish the offence of conspiracy the prosecution should prove that the accused conspired together or had an agreement to murder Zaioux Sesay.
Joseph Sesay further addressed the court that murder is defined as when a normal person unlawfully kills another person by doing something to that person and that person dies within a year or a day as a result of what was done to the person. He furthered that death can occur from stab wounds, gunshot or hitting someone with a stick.
The State Counsel furthered that robbery with aggravation is defined as unlawfully taking something of value from another person by putting the person under fear with the use of a weapon.
He said, with regards to these definitions, the prosecution must prove all the elements in all three offences beyond reasonable doubt.
He said the body was identified to him by Edward Sesay, son of the deceased, Detective Sergeant 14287 Fofanah attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Lumley Police Station and the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO),Inspector I.S.Dumbuya, attached the CID headquarters.
The witness was cross examined by defense counsel, Alpha SallieuNdoleh.
The indictments state that the accused, on diverse dates between the 10th and 12th February, 2017 at Hill Cut Road, west of Freetown, conspired together with other persons unknown to murder Zaioux Sesay.
The indictment continues that the accused, on the same day, at the same place, being armed with a gun, robbed ZaiouxSesay one LG flex phone, value dat seven million leones (Le 7,000,000).
The matter was adjourned to the 1st April 2020.