The Presiding Judge in the late Khadija M. Saccoh alleged murder trial, Justice Don Bosco Allieu, has told both counsels for the defence and state that the said matter will not go beyond two weeks.
The sudden death of the five year old some seven months ago sparked a wave of protests in different quarters of the country.
Justice Alieu said he wants to expedite the matter and urged lawyers from both sides to cooperate by bringing their witnesses to testify in court.
Justice Alieu also used the opportunity to admonish social media writers and those demonstrating in the streets of Freetown against the accused, Mariama Sajor Barrie and Ibrahim Bah.
According to the state, the accused together with unknown persons conspired and murdered Kadijatu Madinatu Saccoh on 17th June 2020 in Freetown.
Justice Allieu then called on court attendees to have confidence in the judiciary, noting that they will execute a free, fair and transparent trial on the matter. He said the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court after a fair hearing and determination of the evidence.
The Learned Judge noted that justice is not only for the victim, but for the accused as well. He said when the trial commences proper they will not allow anybody wearing a T-shirt with the inscription of the deceased’s name to enter the courtroom.
Justice Alieu staed that people should come to the court to listen to the evidence and give the jurors the opportunity to make the right decision at the end of the process.
He ended by assuring the accused of a fair trial, which is their right as spelt out in the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.
According to the Judge, the judiciary is neither in support of the state nor the accused, and will deliver a speedy and fair trial.
The matter has been adjourned to 8th February 2021.
MB/3/2/2021
By Mohamedj.bah@awokonewspaper.sl