By Janet Sesay
Ibrahim Mansaray and Bashiru Mahoi yesterday appeared again before Magistrate Marke Ngegba of Court No.2, for allegedly conspiring together with other persons unknown to murder an American citizen, Massa Kaikai, who came into the country for holiday.
Led in testimony by state prosecutor Joan Bull, the witness, Fatmata Mansaray, said she recognizes the first accused (Ibrahim Mansaray) as her neighbour.
The witness continued that at one time she was sitting down with her husband when Zainab came to the house and told them that the first accused had sent her to collect a telephone number from one Mohammed, noting that he had work for him.
Her husband, the witness added, then wrote his cell number on a piece of paper and gave it to Zainab, who later gave it to the first accused.
Fatmata furthered that her husband (Mohammed) later informed her that the first accused called him to go and dig a hole for him at his house at Wilkinson Road for the purpose of throwing garbage. The witness noted that the accused had told him not to disclose about the digging of the hole to his wife. The husband, according to her, dug the hole and returned home late at night. She disclosed that she had made statement to the police.
Another witness, Zainab Kamara, a student at the SLIMS International High School, who also testified in court, disclosed that she recognizes the first accused (Mohammed) as she was staying together with him and his family at his house at Kossoh Town.
She said sometimes last year, she was at home when the first accused called her on the phone and asked her to go over to the house of Mohammed and collect his phone number. The first accused, she noted, could not disclose to her the reason why he needed the number. She said she then went to the house of Mohammed and collected the phone number and gave it to the first accused.
Zainab furthered explained to the court that, on the following day, the first accused called her again and told her to visit him at his new house. She went and visited him at the house at Wilkinson Road and there the first accused proposed love to her. She said the first accused gave her one hundred thousand leones (Le 100,000) as pocket money. She said she slept at the house with the first accused.
She explained that, on the next morning, she was sweeping the house when the first accused called her and told her about a passport book, which the accused stated he wanted her to keep. She continued that the accused later changed his mind not to give her the passport on the grounds that she was careless.
The witness also revealed to the court that, one day during the afternoon hours, an unidentified man visited the first accused and they both sat at the veranda of the house. The first accused had asked his visitor if he knew anybody who wanted to buy a passport, but the man had replied in the negative.
The accused are in court on four counts of murder, which is contrary to law, burying a human body in a place other than a cemetery, larceny dwelling house and receiving stolen goods.
Court details state that the accused, on a date unknown between 1st and 3rd August 2018 at 44B Lower Pipe Line, Smart Farm, Wilkinson Road in Freetown, murdered Massa Kaikai and buried the human body in a place other than a cemetery.
The details continue that the accused, on the same day and at the same place, stole a number of properties from the said address, to wit one Apple I-Pad, one Apple phone, 21 inches sunny plasma television and other properties, which are all valued at twelve million, two hundred and eighty-five thousand leones. These are properties belonging to the deceased (Massa).
The court details also state that the second accused, Bashiru Mahoi, on a date unknown between 1st and 31st August 2018 in Freetown received one property to wit apple pro I-pad with inscription Mune Kaikai, which is valued five million, five hundred thousand leones, knowing same to have been stolen under the circumstances which amount to felony or misdemeanor.
The matter was adjourned to the 28th May 2019.