January 29, 2016 By Hawa Amara
Detective Police Constable (DPC) 960 Sahid Koroma yesterday testified against one Cornelius Decker, who is charged with allegedly conspiring to murder Bankole Turay.
Testifying before Magistrate Abu Bakarr Binneh-Kamara at the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1, DPC Koroma, who is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at the Aberdeen police station, said that one Sia Koroma visited the station and reported a case of assault on behalf of her husband, Bankole Turay.
The said Bankole Turay reportedly died after he was assaulted by one Philip Omolabi at Sir Samuel Lewis Road, Aberdeen, according to the police.
The witness continued that as a result of the assault, the deceased complained serious stomach ache before he died on 25 October, 2015. He said he was put in charge of investigating the matter, adding that he and a team of police officers headed by Assistant Superintendent Kanneh visited the scene where photographs were taken.
He said the Ebola burial team was later contacted to do swabbing on the corpse, before the body was conveyed to the Connaught Hospital mortuary.
He said while police were on a manhunt for the accused person, his father, Cornelius Decker, went to the station on 30 October, 2015 and was arrested.
He further told the court that on 3 November, 2015 he and Detective Superintendent Kadie Samura witnessed the autopsy examination by Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma, while on 17 November, 2015 Detective Inspector Brown and DPC 13905 Jalloh obtained further statement from the accused. The matter was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters for further investigation, he added.
The accused, Cornelius Decker, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to murder and murder contrary to law.
The witness was cross-examined by defence counsel A.K. Kamara. He said while being cross-examined that the investigation concluded that the deceased and accused did not have any physical altercation.
The matter continues.