By Musa Paul Feika
Joel Salter Williams, the father to the deceased, Joel Bernard Salter Williams, has made his second appearance before Magistrate Langonett Macauley, who presides over at the Ross Road Magistrate Court No. 2, for allegedly slaughtering his son.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Sunday 31st January, 2021, at No. 2 Lord Street, Hastings outside Freetown.
PW1, Detective Police Constable 12144 Sama Jalloh, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department, at the Kissy Police Station in Freetown, told the bench that he recognized the accused and could recall 31st January, 2021.
According to him, on that day, he was on duty at the aforesaid Unit when a case of manslaughter was reported to the station. He added that the matter was assigned to him for investigation.
Detective Police Constable 12144 added that he left for the crime scene at No. 2 Lord Street, Hastings. Mr. Jalloh said, upon his arrival, he noticed a rocky scene, discovered a black belt and a pair of black foam slippers.
The witness recounted that he further proceeded at Rogbangba, where he obtained a statement from one Nurse Kuyateh in respect of the matter. He said, upon his return at the Kissy Police Station, he obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused, noting that, 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 13855 Kamara A.
The voluntary caution statement of the accused was produced and tendered to form part of the court`s records.
On the 5th February, 2021, the witness said himself and Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO), whose name was not mentioned, witnessed a postmortem examination conducted by Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma, at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown.
He said, during the postmortem examination, the SOCO took photographs of the deceased and the death certificate was handed over to him. It was tendered and marked as exhibit A.
On the 10th March, 2021, he charged the accused with the offence of manslaughter, an offence which is contrary to law.
In addendum, PW3 Sergeant 8577, Alimamy Abu Kamara, an Exhibit Clerk, attached to the Exhibit Office at the Kissy Police Station, took the witness box. He started his evidence by highlighting his duties and responsibilities, which include receiving all exhibits handed over to him for safe keeping, and tendering them in court as when they are needed.
He said he could recall 18th January, 2020. According to him, he was on duty at the Exhibit Office, Kissy Police Station, when Detective Police Constable 12144 Sama Jalloh handed over to him a black belt and a pair of foam slippers.
Mr. Kamara detailed the court that he registered them against a serial number RCE 15/2021 and were tendered as exhibits.
During the cross examination by the defence counsel, Sydney Campbell, he put it to the witness that his client told him that the deceased was his son. In reply, Mr. Jalloh said yes. Lawyer Campbell asked the witness again why he charged the accused with the offence of manslaughter.
“I charged the accused with the offence of manslaughter based on the advice of the DPP,” the witness replied.
He finally put it to Mr. Jalloh that, in his findings, he made a suggestion in his report. The witness replied in the negative.
The accused is arraigned before the court for the offence of manslaughter, which is contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The police charged sheet indicates that, Joel Salter Williams, on the 31st January, 2021, at No. 2 Lord Street, Hastings, slaughtered Joel Bernard Salter Williams.
The accused is placed on twenty million Leones (Le20,000,000) with two sureties bail, who must produce valid ID cards. Bail conditions should be approved by the Master and Registrar, and the matter was adjourned to 31st March, 2021.