Defence counsels to file no-case submission in alleged Lunsar murder case

Society

Sierra Leone: Lawyers representing 31 accused persons mostly residing in Lunsar have on Wednesday 17th March 2021 informed the court they would be filing a written no-case submission against the next sitting.

The disclosure came after the defence lawyers cross-examined the tenth and last prosecution witness, after which they closed their case.

The 31 were on Wednesday 17th March 2021 before Magistrate Mark Ngegba at the Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1 on Pademba Road over the alleged Lunsar riot which saw the destruction of properties belonging to Paramount Chief (PC) Bai Koblo Queen estimated at over Le 11 billion including the murder of his nephew, Alie Kabia.

Consequently, the 31 accused persons faced several count charges, among them; murder, riotous conduct, throwing missile, disorderly behaviour, among others.

State counsel Yusif Isaac Sesay is prosecuting the matter, while lawyer Lansana Dumbuya is defending the 14th accused person; lawyer Pujeh the 26th; and Macfoy the remainder.

System and Data Analyst, Detective Mohamed Jusu of the Cyber Crime Unit, Scientific Support Department of the CID who had earlier testified was duly cross-examined by defence counsels.

During cross-examination lawyer Dumbuya argued that his client was not present when the alleged incident occurred, but came after. He also argued that the video, shown earlier in court of a protest in Lunsar, identified a man named Bulgur as the ringleader.

Lawyer Macfoy reiterated that the witness is not the author of the video, insinuating that the person who did it might have tampered with it. The witness, relying on his expertise, said he reached the conclusion that the video had not been tampered with.

Lawyer Macfoy said his clients’ faces did not appear in the protest video, neither their names, which the prosecution witness acknowledged.

Magistrate Mark Ngegba admonished defence counsels to ensure that they submit their written no-case submission on the next adjourned date. “It is a must that you submit your no-case submission on the next adjourned date,” he emphasised before remanding all the accused at the Male Correctional Facility on Pademba Road, Freetown, and adjourning the matter to 24th March 2021.

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