Police Tenders Murder Weapon In Court

By Fatima Sesay

Police Sergeant 8576 Issa Kamara, on Thursday 20 March 20 2025, tendered one AK-47 gun and four live rounds (bullets) before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of court No1 of Santigie Kamara an OSD personnel, who killed his brother. The accused,Santigie Kamara, was arraigned before the court on a count charge of Murder contrary to section 1 of the offence against the person Act 1861, as repealed and replaced by Section 1 (a) to the schedule of the abolition of the death penalty Act 2021 Act No.6 of 202 According to the particulars of offence, the accused on the 19th January 2025 at Waterloo in the western area, murdered Francis Amara Kanneh. The witness in his testimony said he is an exhibit clerk attached to the exhibit office at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters, Pademba Road, Freetown. He said his roles and responsibilities includes the registration and safe keeping of all exhibits brought to the office, and tender them in court when needed.He recognized the accused in the dock and recalled on the 4th February 2025. Sergeant Kamara said that on the said date, whiles on duty, Inspector Foday, attached to the Homicide syndicate CID headquarters, handed over to him two old rubber chairs with blood stain, one old AK-47-gun, two empty bullet shells, one old empty magazine, four live rounds and one used bullet. He said he then registered the said items in the court exhibit book against serial number RCE 014/2025, furthering that the exhibits have since been in the custody of the police. The items were tendered in court to form part of the prosecution case.  Defense Counsel E. Eloba did not cross-examine the witness. The accused was remanded in custody until 27th March 2025 for continuation of hearing.