Shuaibu Barrie, his sister and wife, Hawanatu Barrie, were attacked by an armed gang of young men on 16th December 2018 at 2:00 a.m., near the St. John junction, on their way home from the Siaka Stevens Stadium. A fight ensued and Barrie was stabbed in the chest in the course of the robbery. Ibrahim Sesay Conteh stands accused of the attack and assault and was arrested on 29th December 2018. Other attackers escaped Police at the scene of the crime. Conteh is charged with Conspiracy to commit a Felony and Robbery with Aggravation. Shuaibu Barrie testified before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie on Tuesday 22nd January 2019 at the Siaka Stevens Street Magistrate No.2. He said he was surrounded by a gang of young men who took his possessions and stripped him naked. He fought back. Barrie said the accused, Conteh, took a knife and stabbed him in the chest. According to the victim, Conteh then pushed him into the gutter. Barrie was able to hold onto his attacker until the Police arrived and made an arrest. Barrie testified that the other attackers ran away. According to the testimony of the victim’s wife, Hawanatu Barrie, the gang of young men attacked them and stole their phones and handbags. She said she did not see the accused stab her husband. She rushed with Barrie to the Connaught Hospital and later made a report to Police at the Adelaide Street Police Station. The defence counsel asked for a deferment of cross-examination. Conteh was not granted bail. The accused has been sent on remand to the Pademba Road Male Correctional Centre. The matter has been adjourned to 23 January 2019.
BB/22/1/19
By Baindu Bawoh (Intern)
Wednesday January 23, 2019.