By Musa Paul Feika
Police Prosecution Witness, Lamin Johnson has told the court that when the deceased, Abubakarr Fofanah was allegedly stabbed, he took him to the Rokupa Government Hospital in Wellington in Freetown and according to him, he was asked to pay the sum of Le 50,000 (fifty Thousand Leones) as fees for an ambulance to convey the deceased at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown for treatment due to the seriousness of his wounds.
Mr. Johnson made this revelation before Magistrate Alhaji Suliaman Koroma, of Ross Road Magistrate Court No. 1, during yesterday`s proceedings in the ongoing murder trial involving two accused namely, Vandi Senesis and Ibrahim Koroma, who are charged to court for an alleged crime of murder, which is contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The witness furnished the court that when the diseased was taken to the Connaught Hospital for further medical attention, he was again asked by the Medical Doctor to pay the sum of fifty thousand Leones for blood but he said that during the process, the deceased passed away.
The witness further testified that he recognized the deceased as well as the accused and could recall 20th February 2020. According to him, on that fateful day, he was going towards Whenzle Street Junction, Kissy in Freetown, when he saw the first accused and the deceased in a scuffle. He said he went to the crime scene to find out what was the matter, adding that before he arrived at the alleged crime scene, the first accused had already ran away, and that he only met the deceased who later told him that he was allegedly stabbed by the first accused.
Mr. Johnson added that himself with the help of onlookers took the deceased to Kissy Police Division in Freetown where they were issued with a police medical request form on behalf of the deceased for treatment at the Rokupa Government Hospital Wellington in Freetown and were referred to the Connaught Hospital where the deceased eventually died because the medical practitioners both at Rokupa Government Hospital and Connaught Hospital in Freetown failed to give urgent a medical attention to deceased due to lack of money.
The police charge sheet indicates that the accused on 20th February, 2020 at No. 10 Whenzle Street, Kissy in Freetown murdered Abubakarr Fofanah.
The accused were denied bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre while the matter was adjourned to 12th August, 2020.