The wife of the Former Managing Editor of the New Age Newspaper Memuna Samura on Thursday 28th January 2021 wept in Court while testifying before Justice Augustine Musa at the High Court of Freetown.
Mrs. Samura is the wife of the late Ibrahim Samura, who the State alleges was murdered by the former Mayor of Freetown Herbert George Williams and the Former Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture Abu Bakarr Daramy in 2018 in the Western Area.
Madam Samura told the Court that she recalled 31st March 2018 during the Presidential runoff elections in the country, as she was on duty at the Calaba Town Police Station, being a Police Inspector. She said during such process, she got a call with regards to one man being caught with multiple ballots in one of the secondary schools in the east.
She furthered that few minutes later, she also got another call from her husband (the deceased) complaining of being assaulted by certain people. According to the witness, she advised him to make a report of the matter at the nearest police station.
The witness said on 6th June 2018, she got information that her husband had collapsed, after earlier receiving a message from him about a vehicle crisis, he was involved in with the police. Madam Samura said she went to the house at Hill Station, and on her arrival at the house, she met the deceased sitting on the floor with his back leaning on his couch with some drugs on the table.
She said when she asked the deceased what the problem was with him, her husband was quick to refer her to consult with his friend Dixon.
Madam Samura said they took him to the 34 Military Hospital, for thorough treatment, adding that few minutes after their arrival at the hospital, the death of her husband was confirmed by a medical practitioner after noticing it herself prior to such confirmation.
At this point, the wife of the late journalist was overcome with emotions and ended up weeping in court.
The Judge and defence counsels Melron Nicol Wilson, and Lansana Dumbuya sympathized with the weeping witness.
State Counsel madam Umu Sumaray subsequently closed the case for prosecution.
Both defense lawyers, said their clients will not call any witness or even testify from the dock but rather rely on the statements they made to the police.
Judgement is expected on 11th February 2021 almost a year after the matter was committed to the High Court for trial on 23rd February 2020.
MB/29/1/2021
By mohamedj.bah@awokonewspaper.sl