Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay on Thursday 13th August 2020 reduced the murder charge the state levied against four accused persons to manslaughter. The judge made the decision based on an application by state counsel Jesse Tucker courtesy of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.
According to the amended indictment, on 25th April 2019 Salieu Conteh, Sheka Kamara, Santigie Bangura and Saidu Bangura murdered one Abu Sesay in Freetown. They were charged with manslaughter contrary to law. Lawyer for the four accused, Ibrahim Tommy, didn’t object to the application by the state counsel, but instead commended him for such a “brilliant move”.
Lawyer Tommy said he hopes the changing of the charge will put the prosecuting team in a better position to expedite the matter. Since the defence didn’t raise any objection, Justice Sesay was left with no option but to reduce the charge from murder to manslaughter and dismissed the 11 jurors who had been empaneled on the matter.
Explaining the effect of such a change in charges to the accused, Justice Sesay said if the accused are found guilty of manslaughter, they won’t face the gallows, which is the case for murder. He then adjourned the matter to 27th August 2020. MJB/14/08/2020
By Mohamed J. Bah