Police Detective Testifies In Murder Trial

By Fatmata Mohamed Bangura
In the high-profile murder trial of Sai Fatu Kamara by her boyfriend Abdul Kpaka in the High Court of Sierra Leone before Justice Momoh Jah Stevens, the prosecution brought forward its Eight witness to testify after an application was made.
Yusuf Issac Sesay, the Prosecution Counsel, made an application to the judge for an order to be granted for which he called Detective Sergeant 19832 Issac Eddision as an additional witness pursuant to Section 188 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
The Prosecution led its witness Detective Police Sergeant 19832 Issa Edison, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Adonkia Police Station.
He took an oath on the Holy Quran at the commencement of his testimony and in his submission explained what transpired at the Adonkai Police Station while he was on duty.
According to him, he affirmed that he recognised the accused person in the dock and that on Tuesday, August 13th 2024, at around 21:00, the Local Unit Commander (LUC) from Goderich Division called him to his office, where he met the accused person, Abdul Kpaka and other people in the offence of the LUC.
He further stated that the LUC assigned a case of murder for him to investigate and handed over to him the accused person to make a statement in relation to the matter, and from that point, he then recalled Patrick Sylvester Kamara had made a report.
He continued that he took the accused person to the CID Department at Adonkia, for him to tender his statement but that he refused to make statement as his lawyers were in absentia, and said he could only make statement when his lawyers are present.
The Investigator, Issa Edison, informed the court that in order to observe his rights, he then postponed the interview to Wednesday 14th August 2024 and that on the following day, while on duty at CID Adonkia at 11:00 am, his lawyers arrived for their client.
That at 11:30, Detective Police Sergeant 9462 Bellia G.J obtained interview from the accused person, in the presence of all his lawyers: Alfred Kamanda Esq, Abdul Senesie Esq and Chrispin N. kamara Esq.
He narrated that Detective Sergeant 9462 Belia G.J cautioned and questioned the accused person in Krio, and he made responses in Krio while, he recorded in English.
During the time of recording, he received an instruction that the matter should be transferred to the Regional Headquarters in Freetown West at the Lumley Police Station at about 13:55 hours.
That he then completed the responses of the accused person, Abdul Kpaka and that he handed two statements with one original case file and the accused person to investigator Andrew N. Amara for further questioning, and the voluntary question statement was tendered to the court to form part of the exhibits.
Meanwhile, the judge adjourned the trial to the 16th of November 2024 for further hearing.