Police Presents Evidence In Murder Case

By Fatmata Mohamed Bangura
Twenty-Eight-year-old businessman Adekalie Conteh made his first appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No.2 in Freetown.
Facing three charges including Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Murder and Malicious Damage.
The charges are based on Alleged violations of the Offence Against the Persons Act 1861 and the Abolition of the Death Penalty 2021(Act 2 of 2022) as well as the Malicious Damage Act 1861.
According to the prosecution on Sunday 16th February 2025, at Tokeh Grassfield main Peninsula Road in the Western Area of Freetown, Adekalie Conteh allegedly conspired with unknown individuals to commit murder.
The second count alleges that he murdered Andrew Mansaray on the same date and at the same location.
The Third count alleges that he maliciously damaged a Bluetooth Musical set valued at Le 3,000 property of Francis Lebbie.
When the charges were read and explained in court no plea was taken.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sorie Conteh led the prosecution and presented the second witness, DPC 17861 Issa Kargbo, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Lumley Police Station.
DPC Kargbo confirmed his recognition of the accused and the complainant.
He recalled that on the 19th February 2025, while on duty, he was assigned the case and initiated investigations obtaining statements from witnesses and the complainant.
He testified that on 21st February 2025, he and the Crime Officer went to the crime scene.
That same day, DPC Kargbo and Sergeant 84804 Bah M. obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused in Krio, which was recorded in English.
The statement was read again to the accused, who confirmed it is accurate by affixing his righthand thumbprint on it and was tender in court as part of evidence.
That on 24th February 2025, request was made to the Chief Medical Examiner for postmortem examination and that the autopsy was conducted on the 26th February 2025 and both the cause of death certificate and autopsy report were produced and admitted into evidence.
That on 27th February 2025, the accused was formally charged using the same procedure as earlier caution statement.
Legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was also presented and tendered in court as part of the record.
The witness was later cross examined by defence counsel M.S Kargbo.
Magistrate Bangura refused bail and remanded the accused at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown and adjourned the matter to 24th April 2025.