By Musa Paul Feika
Police prosecution witness Detective Police Constable Tamba Unisa, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at Mortema Police Station in Kono, has testified before Magistrate Mark Ngeba at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 in the on-going matter involving Mineru Lebbie.
The accused is charged for allegedly killing Jonathan Saidu, who was working for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) in Kono.
According to the prosecution witness (PW) 1, Tamba Unisa, he recognised the accused as well as the deceased military personnel, and could recall 23rd December, 2020.
Mr. Unisa said that on that fateful day, he was on duty at the Mortema Police Station when the deceased told him to patrol Mortema and its environs. He said they both boarded the TVS motorbike, adding that as they continued with their patrol, they met the accused playing his amplifier quite loudly.
PW1 furthered that when they asked the accused why he was playing the amplifier so loud at that time of the night, he told them that he had a church programme.
He said the accused was arrested, put on the motorbike and eventually left for the police station.
Mr. Unisa recounted that as they were about to approach Budugu Junction, the accused forcefully alighted the motorbike, for which the deceased pursued him. He said he later called the deceased, who was nowhere to be found.
“After few minutes, I heard a gunshot at a distance,” the witness said.
Upon arrival, he said he met two people standing at the scene where he heard the gunshot. Asked who was responsible for the shooting, he said they could not tell. He detailed the court that at the crime scene he saw a combat slipper and a ‘cold cap’ on the ground. The witness concluded his evidence stating that he made statement to the police.
The accused is arraigned before the court on one count of murder, which is contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone. The police said Mineru Lebbie on 23rd December, 2020 at the outskirt of Mortema in Kono District, murdered Jonathan Lebbie.
The accused was remanded and the matter adjourned to 26th May, 2021.