By Janet Sesay
Five juveniles, who identified themselves as Francis Norigba, Ibrahim Kargbo, Aminata Kargbo, Mohammed Thulla and Ivan Taylor, yesterday made their eighth appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1.
It was alleged by police that the accused assaulted and wounded the complainant, Ansumana, in such a manner as to kill him.
Mohammed Koroma, who is PW2, in his testimony, said he knows the accused as his neighbor and could recall Monday 17th December. 2018.
He explained that on that day, in the evening hours, he and the complainant went down to Hamilton Beach, but on their way back they met the accused using abusive language and were holding bottles in their hands.
He told the court that, when the complainant tried to stop them, they rushed at him and stabbed him with a bottle on his right side, where blood started oozing out.
The witness said when the accused saw the blood of the complainant they all fled, but he chased them and was able to get hold of the first accused (Francis) and took him to the Adonkia Police Station and made a report.
At the police station, the first accused identified the other accused. They all took the victim to the hospital for treatment.
The accused are charged with four counts of wounding with intent to murder, which is contrary to section (1) of the Offence Against the Persons Act of 1861 and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The charge sheet stated that the accused, on Monday, 17th December, 2018, at Dillet Street Hamilton in Freetown, wounded Ansumana Sawaneh with intent to murder him.
The charged sheet furthered that the accused, on the same day at the same place, assaulted Ansumana in a manner thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
The witness was cross-examined by defense counsel, A. Konteh, who made an application for bail on behalf of the all accused.
The Prosecutor, Sergeant 1462 Amiza John, objected to bail on the grounds that the offence is a very serious one.
The accused were granted bail and the matter was adjourned to the 13th February 2019.