October 13, 2016 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma
Exhibit Officer, Detective Police Constable 1989 Samuel Mansaray, attached to the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters in Freetown, yesterday tendered in court seven empty bullet shells, two live rounds, one chainsaw, one cutlass and two long iron bars to form part of the court’s records.
He was testifying in the ongoing Tengbeh Town murder of an Operational Support Division Officer, who was allegedly murdered by Solomon Bondi and Hector Sesay.
The accused are currently standing trial in the High Court on three counts of conspiracy, robbery with aggravation and murder, contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
State Prosecutor Aruna Sesay alleges that the duo conspired with other unknown individuals to murder Daniel Salieu Kamara on 1st January, 2015 at No.9 off Beckley Lane, Tengbeh Town.
DPC 1989 Mansaray said part of his duties was to receive exhibits from investigators for safe keeping and avail them in court when necessary.
He recalled on 20th January, 2015 when one Detective Police Constable 11094 Philip Bob Smart brought the aforementioned exhibits for safe keeping.
Also testifying yesterday in court, second prosecution witness, DPC 11094 Philip B. Smart, attached to the Anti-Robbery Unit of the Operational Support Division headquarters, tendered both the caution and charge statements of the accused persons.
DPC Smart said he recognised both accused persons and recalled on the day of the incident when one Mohamed Abass reported a robbery with aggravation and murder incident, adding that he was instructed to lead the investigation.
He said he and a team of detectives, including a certain Superintendent Kamara, went to the scene of crime and saw blood stain on the floor where the police officer was allegedly murdered.
He said he entered the room of the complainant and discovered that it was ransacked, while he subsequently obtained statement from both the complainant and other witnesses.
He continued that on 3rd January, the first accused, Solomon Bondi, was arrested, while second accused Hector Sesay was arrested subsequently.
He testified that they interviewed both accused persons and charged them to court on 19th January with three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery with aggravation and murder, contrary to law.
While being cross-examined by defense lawyer H.M. Gavao, DPC Smart said both accused persons had denied the allegations and that throughout the investigations they found nothing that connected them to the exhibits tendered in court.
He further said under cross-examination that on the day of the incident, both accused persons were not seen together and that he was aware that other set of people had been separately arrested and charged to court for the same offence.
The matter was adjourned to 26th October, 2016.