Neighbour Agnes Jajua and friend Sally Dura Kamara of late Khadija Saccoh’s mother, on Thursday 13th August 2020, testified in the trial of Mariama Sajor Barrie and Ibrahim Bah who stand accused of the death of the 5 year old. Police alleged that the accused persons, on Wednesday 17th June 2020, murdered Saccoh. They are each facing one count charge of conspiracy to murder contrary to law. Prosecution witness and petty trader Agnes Jajua recognised both accused persons she called her neighbours and the deceased who she said had lived in the same compound. She recalled that in the morning hours of Wednesday 17th June 2020, she was in her apartment when the first accused called out to her.
“When I entered her place, I met her lying on the floor. She told me she was ill and has a headache, and her eyes were dark. I told I had experienced similar health complications,” she said. She said Barrie later called Bah and asked him to buy some medicine for her, adding she left as Barrie was taking the meds. Jajua disclosed meeting the deceased at Barrie’s residence.
“On the same day in the evening, Bah called me again to the veranda where she met Barrie carrying the deceased, and told me the deceased was unwell. I went to have my bath, and upon returning I did not see both accused persons at the veranda,” she said. When she later met Barrie in the veranda, she said Barrie was worried about Khadija’s health, so she advised she be taken to the hospital. Although she had agreed to accompany Barrie to the hospital, she said Barrie had left when she went inside to change her clothes.
“I climbed the veranda and met Bah who was also looking for Barrie and the deceased. Before long, somebody called to say they were at Lumley. We boarded a motorcycle and were on our way when we were told that they had been referred to the Choithram Hospital,” she added. When a medical doctor came out and asked for the child’s mother, she said Barrie replied that she was, adding when the doctor called and asked Bah if he was brave, he replied that he was. The doctor then revealed to him the child had died.
Jajua later made a statement at the police station.
In his cross-examination, defence counsel for the first accused, lawyer L.J. Kamara, said Barrie was the child’s caretaker. Defence counsel for the second accused, lawyer E.T. Koroma, said the second accused was not present at the house when the deceased felt sick, adding that his client is a businessman that was hardly home. He reaffirmed that the witness accompanied Barrie to the hospital, and not Bah.
Fourth prosecution witness Sally Dura Kamara recalled, on Wednesday 17th June 2020, being in her house when the deceased’s mother told her that her sister (the first accused) and daughter (the decease) were sick. The witness later called at Barrie’s residence to enquire about the deceased’s health, but Barrie told her she was getting better. “I recommended some dosage for her, but Barrie did not have them at the time, so I offered the ones I had at home. She sent a certain Brima who collected the drug and left,” she explained.
“A few minutes later, Barrie called to say the deceased had collapsed. I then called the mother of the deceased, Binta, and intimated her about the deceased’s health, but she expressed surprise, for she had no idea about it. “I later met Bah who told me they had taken the deceased to the 34 Military Hospital. I boarded a motor bike, but they were referred to the Lumley Hospital near the market, where I also followed them. I met them at the roundabout, but the deceased had already collapsed.”
She said a doctor who diagnosed the deceased advised that she be taken to the Connaught Hospital. “We informed the stepfather of the deceased, but advised that we take her to Choithram Hospital where a doctor examined her and demanded to know the parents of the deceased, so I identified both accused persons as her immediate parents. A few minutes later I heard Bah scream aloud and when I enquired, he told me that the deceased had died.”
During cross-examination, lawyer A.M. Kamara desired to know what the witness meant when she said the deceased collapsed. Responding, the witness said the deceased was breathing, but appeared lifeless at the same time. The witness revealed that the doctor at Choithram Hospital only checked her temperature and later declared her dead.
During cross-examination, defence counsel for the second accused, lawyer E.T. Koroma re-affirmed that the second accused was not with the first accused during their visits to the various hospitals. Magistrate Mark Ngegba adjourned the matter to Thursday 20th August 2020, and remanded both accused persons in prison. SKS/14/08/2020
By Sulaiman Karim Sesay