Alhaji M Kamara, representing the accused in the alleged murder case on Wednesday January 2016 at the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1, told the court in a cross examination that the first accused, Mohamed Lamin Kamara was charged initially with loitering.
Police prosecutor ASP, Duniya presented prosecution witness (PW5), detective police sergeant 7681 Hassan Kargbo, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department, Congo Cross police station before Magistrate Binneh Kamara.
According to PW5, he did recall on 13th August 2015 while on duty at Congo Cross police station when a case and enquiry file for the offence of murder was transferred from the Aberdeen Beach Police Station to Congo Cross police station.
PW5, in his statement before the court, said himself and detective sergeant 5572 Kindo Papa Kamara cautioned and questioned the first accused which he recorded at the end. According to him, the accused refused to sign the voluntary caution statement, saying that he had already made statement to the police before he was arrested and brought to the station.
PW5 also said that the first accused told him that he will reserve his opinion for court proceeding. The witness then produced and tendered the voluntary caution statement to the court and it was recorded as exhibit L1-3.
According to PW5, on 19 August 2015 the matter was transferred to the criminal investigation department head quarter for further investigation.
In cross examining PW5, Lawyer Alhaji M Kamara, leading the defence said that two police officers cautioned and questioned the accused but only one question was asked. The witness (PW5) responded by saying that the accused refused to speak.
Alhaji M Kamara also put it directly to PW5 in front of Magistrate Binneh that the first accused was initially charged with loitering as opposed to murder which he is presently charged with, which PW5 denied strongly.
According to the particulars of offence before the court, on 13th August 2015 at 7am a female corpse was found lying at Aberdeen Beach suspected to have been sexually abused which resulted to death. Both Mohamed Lamin Kamara and Paul Corn charged with murder.
The matter was been adjourned to the 2nd February 2016.
By Mohamed J Bah
Friday Januar 29, 2016
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