July 13, 2018
By Regina Pratt
Murdered in cold blood: Late Lt-Gen. Sheku Omar Williams
The alleged murderers of Sierra Leone’s former Chief of Defense Staff, retired Lieutenant-General Samuel Omar Williams have been indicted on five count charges, including murder and robbery with aggravation.
The four accused persons are currently facing trial before Hon. Justice Emmanuella Harding at the Freetown High Court sitting at Ross Road.
They are Ibrahim Kalokoh a.k.a. Cartel, Festus Mansaray a.k.a. Bigman, Alhaji Steven a.k.a. Tegal and Alpha Omaru Jalloh a.k.a. Maju. They all pleaded not guilty to all the counts of conspiracy, murder and three counts of robbery with aggravation.
According to the particulars of offence, the accused persons on diverse dates between 2nd to 22nd December 2016, armed with a short gun, robbed retired Lieutenant General Sheku Omar Williams two iphones, a black Sierratel phone, Samsung galaxy edge, silver marble laptop, sunny blue-black computer, black travelling bag, and gold colour bracelet and necklace.
Addressing the court, prosecuting counsel Augustine Sheku submitted that all accused persons were charged with five counts of conspiracy, three counts of robbery with aggravation and one count of murder.
According to Sheku, the prosecution has established that on the aforesaid dates, all accused persons came together and agreed to go and kill a senior statesman.
“On the 22nd December 2016, the accused persons executed that plan to shot and kill the deceased statesman on that fateful morning and carted away his properties,” the state prosecutor submitted.
The defense, led by Lawyer Cecilia Tucker of the Legal Aid Board, requested for an adjournment to have ample time to address the court.
The matter was adjourned to Thursday, July 19.