Emma Coker and Abdul Khe-Morlai on Friday 21st February, 2025, made their third appearance before the principal Magistrate of the Freetown Magistrate Court no.1, Magistrate Sahr Kekura for allegedly killing a twenty-two year old boy by beating him mercilessly.
The accused persons Emma Coker and Abdul Khe-Morlai were arraigned before the court on two count charges of conspiracy to murder contrary to section 4 of the offense against the person’s Act of 1861 and murder contrary to section 1 of the offense against the person’s Act of 1861 as repealed and replaced by section 1a of the schedule of the abolition of the death penalty Act of 2001.
The charge sheet indicated that both accused persons on Sunday 22 December 2024 at Bonga Lane in Freetown conspired together to commit murder.
The charge sheet further states that both accused on the same day and place murdered Mohamed Conteh.
Sergeant 9939 Mohamed Lahai brought in Prosecution witness number one Isata Kamara a Business woman she only came to know the accused persons in court today he know Mohamed Conteh now deceased as her son. She recall on the 22nd December 2024, something happened on the above date the deceased left her to sell soap in town. He bade farewell to her and wished him safe journey. The witness said she did not see the deceased after mid-day and she was worried because he normally returns home by mid-day. She continued that she waited till 2pm she did not see the deceased, adding that she called him on his mobile phone but to no avail.
She said she received a telephone call from the chief of Banana water and he gave her certain information about the deceased. upon the information she rush to the place of the chief at Banana water together with some of his relatives but did not meet the deceased at the residence of the chief. The chief gave her another information in respect of the deceased upon receipt of the information herself and her relatives went to Congo Cross police station where she met the deceased at Congo Cross police station. She added that she spoke to him but he could not respond as blood was oozing from his mouth nose and anus while water was also oozing from his waist part. She further explained that there were scars on his body. The victim was issued with police medical request and was advised to take the deceased to the hospital. Before they left for the hospital the investigator called her attention to take a look at the bag of the deceased. She told the court that the said bag contained ninety five thousand Leones.
The witness said they took the deceased to Satelite hospital at kingharman Road but they were referred to Connaught hospital. On arriving in Connaught with the deceased he was examined and within few minutes he was proclaimed dead. she started weeping and was taken to Waterloo the witness said. She made statement to the police and his remains was given to her for burial. She further told the court that the deceased was later buried at the Waterloo cemetery.
The witness was cross examined by C.J Luseni Esq.
Meanwhile Magistrate Kekura refused bail and remanded the accused persons to the male correctional facility in Freetown. The matter adjourned to the 24th February, 2025.
