Wife Testifies In Husband’s Murder Trial

By: Fatmata Mohamed Bangura

Journalist Joseph Mendel Lamin, alias “Manager Dust,” along with Morlia Kamara, a bike rider, and Umaru Timbo, a driver, made their fourth court appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1.
They are standing trial on two charges: conspiracy to commit murder and murder, under the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, as amended by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021.
The prosecution alleges that on 15th January 2025, at the Voice of Peace and Development (VOPAD) Radio Station in Kissi Town, Waterloo, they conspired with others to murder journalist Samuel Brima Mattia.
On 26th February 2025, the second prosecution witness, Kadiatu Kanu, a businesswoman and the wife of the deceased, took the stand to testify.
She identified the late Samuel Brima Mattia as her husband of six to seven years. She also recognized the first accused, stating that he was her husband’s best friend.
However, she only became familiar with the second and third accused during the trial.
Kadiatu recalled that on 15th January 2025, her husband left for work at 6:30 a.m. to open VOPAD Radio Station and returned home around 6 to 7 PM for dinner and a change of clothes.
Later that evening, he told her he was heading back to the station to park some bikes.
When he failed to return by 9 p.m., Kadiatu attempted to reach him through his phone, but he was unreachable. She then called his best friend, the first accused, who told her he was not at the radio station but had left his bike there and was at home with his girlfriend.
Later, the first accused called her back, claiming he had gone to the station, heard music playing inside, but received no response when he tried calling Samuel. He advised her to rest, assuring her that her husband would return home soon.
By the next morning, on the 16th January 2025, with still no sign of her husband, Kadiatu informed her mother-in-law about his disappearance. Following her advice, she went to VOPAD Radio Station, where she found the first accused sitting under a mango tree near the office. When her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Mattia, asked about Samuel, the first accused was unable to provide an answer.
As concern grew, they called Board Chairman Mr. Margia and a man named Foday, whom she referred to as a brother. Upon arriving, the two men took the first accused inside the office. When they emerged, they requested the station be closed so they could report the matter to the police.
After arriving at the Kissy Town Police Station, the Chairman, the first accused, and Foday later returned, and an individual named Aunty Neneh instructed Kadiatu and Elizabeth to go home. That same day, Aunty Neneh called Kadiatu with chilling news, the police had found a dead body in the bush. In disbelief, Kadiatu questioned why they were informing her, but upon arriving at the scene, she was devastated to learn that the lifeless body belong to her husband, Samuel Brima Mattia.
She later proceeded to the police station to give her statement.
Following this emotional testimony, the court adjourned the matter to 4th March 2025 for further proceedings.