Fatmata Kamara, a 31-year old hairdresser had her baby while she was incarcerated at the Correctional Centre in Freetown. On 8 June 2016, Kamara and her rival, Sama Conteh, who was ten months pregnant had a fight during which Kamara bit her on several parts of her body. Conteh later died as a result of tetanus infliction.
When her rival died, she was arrested and charged with murder. Kamara was pregnant during the preliminary investigation at the Magistrate Court and since murder charges were not bailable offences, she was incarcerated at the Correctional Centre. There she had her baby.
One year later, Kamara appeared with her baby at the High Court in Freetown to be tried for murder. On 13 July 2017, her defence counsel, Philip I. Mamie raised the issue of bail since she was a lactating mother. Mamie also drew the Court’s attention to the issue of stigma for the child.
The presiding judge, Justice Komba Kamanda had suggested that the State put measures in place to get the child out of jail.
It is close to four months since that application was made. The accused continues in jail with her baby. No progress has been made into the trial due to difficulty attracting jurors.
At her appearance before the judge on Thursday 9 November, the Judge ordered for an adjournment of the matter. She will make her next appearance on Tuesday 28 November 2017.
ES/9/11/17
By Edna Smalle
Friday November 10, 2017.
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