By Janet A. Sesay
Military Corporal, RSLAF 18181456 Joseph Lamin Stevens on Tuesday, 6th January, 2026, made his first appearance before the Principal Magistrate of the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1, Mustapha Braima Jah for allegedly shooting and killing a colleague Military Officer, Moses Brima Kabba.
Stevens was arraigned before the court on a count charge of murder contrary to Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 as repealed and replaced by Section 1(a) to the Schedule of The Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021, Act No. 6 of 2022.
The indictment states that Joseph Lamin Stevens on Wednesday, 26th November, 2025 at the Presidential Lounge at the Freetown International Airport at Lungi in the Port Loko Judiciary District, Northern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone, murdered Moses Brima Kabba.
After the charges were read and explained to Defendant, no plea was taken because the offense levied against him is considered serious. Stevens was served with the necessary documents to enable him to prepare himself for his defense.
The Prosecutor, ASP Ibrahim Mansaray at this juncture sought an adjournment indicating that his Prosecution Witnesses were absent in court.
The request for the adjournment was granted by Principal Magistrate Jah and ordered that the Defendant, Joseph Lamin Stevens be remanded at the Male Correctional Facility at Pademba Road in Freetown until the adjourned date of 13th January, 2026 when the matter would be heard further.