November 8, 2017 By Memunatu Bangura
Magistrate Albert Moody of the nFreetown Magistrates’ Court No.1 yesterday ordered 18-year-old Gbassay Mansaray, who is accused of murder, to undergo a psychiatric medical examination.
Defence lawyer C. Semmei applied to the magistrate for his client to be examined by Sierra Leone’s only psychiatrist specialist, Dr. Edward Nahim.
Magistrate Moody stated that the offence for which the accused is before the court is a very serious one that attracts capital punishment.
The magistrate said the application by the defence lawyer was reasonable and that the result of the medical examination would help the court ascertain whether the accused’s mental condition was responsible for his action or whether it was a post-traumatic stress disorder.
Magistrate Moody also instructed the defence lawyer to monitor, facilitate and enhance the process in order to avoid delay in the trial, adding that he should be steadfast in facilitating the examination and to ensure that the process does not delay, thus leading a revocation of the order.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant 1740 Pearce had earlier argued that the accused person had shown no sign of madness when the matter was initially under investigation.
But Magistrate Moody responded that the prosecutor was not the investigator and was not competent to tell the court whether the accused showed signs of madness or not.
The accused person was arraigned before the court on allegation of murder contrary to law. The particulars of offence states that on Tuesday, 22 August, 2017 at New York, Yams Farm, in Freetown, the accused threw her one year old son Abu Bakarr Mansaray into salt water with intent to kill him.
The matter was adjourned to Wednesday, 15 November.