As High Court Criminal Sessions Commences…
By Elkas Sannoh
His Lordship Justice Babatunde Edwards, the Chief Justice of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone has resumed work and officially opened the September, 2020 Criminal Sessions on Tuesday, 15th September, 2020 after a hale and hearty two weeks break in the country.
The Chief Justice presided over thirty nine (39) cases marking the official commencement of this year’s High Court Criminal Sessions for the 2020 Judicial Calendar. The September, 2020 Criminal Sessions, commenced without the usual fanfare due to the outbreak of the deadly corona virus disease, (COVID 19).
During the session, the accused persons were represented by the Legal Aid Board lawyers whilst the State counsel prosecuted the cases brought before the Court. The cases ranged from murder; sexual penetration; Burglary; Wounding with intent; Larceny and Robbery with aggravation among others.
One of the accused persons, 25-year-old painter, Mohamed Musa Bangura, pleaded guilty and said his act to stab his friend, Cherinoh Barrie, was not intentional and therefore begged for mercy.
Representing the accused person, Defence Lawyer, Cecilia Tucker, told the Court that her client (the accused) is a first time offender who did not waste the precious time of the Court before taking a guilty plea. She said her client showed remorse and pleaded guilty to demonstrate regret for his action.
In her response, the State counsel, Elizabeth Tity Jalloh, said the accused person stabbed the victim on his right hand with a bottle. She said the victim received five stitches with other minor injuries.
Delivering his judgement on the matter, the Chief Justice, based on the Defence’s plea and the fact that the victim and the accused were friends, aged 25 and 26 respectively sentenced Mohamed Musa Bangura to one year imprisonment and cautioned him to desist from all forms of violence.
“I hope you have learnt a very good lesson from your action,” said Justice Edwards.
He admonished him to conform to good moral behaviour after spending his term at the Correctional Center.
His Lordship Justice Edwards refused bail to all murder cases including the notorious Waterloo herbalist, Mohamed Conteh popularly known as ‘Jahanama Fire’ and two others who allegedly murdered three people on Tuesday, 25th February, 2020 at Magbath village, in the Western Rural District of Freetown.
The sessions continue.
