By Mohamed Mansaray in Kenema
In the High Court of Sierra Leone Holden at Kenema on April 28, 2026, two Defendants, Sarah Thompson a School pupil and Solomon Thompson a crippled all of No. 53 Dama Road in Kenema have been sent to jail 30 years imprisonment by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Abdul Sheriff for Conspiracy and Murder, Contrary to Law.
The charges were read to the two Defendants by Thomas. B. L. Sam the Registrar of the court in Kenema.
He also informed the court that the two Defendants on June 24, 2022, at Dama Road in Kenema City, Conspired with unknown individuals and Murdered Mohamed Sama. The Defendants pleaded not guilty to both counts. Pursuant to the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) No.32 of 1965, which was there in operation a number of twelve (12) Persons were empanelled as Jurors Presiding over the matter. To prove it case, the Prosecution led Six (6) witnesses. The case for the Prosecution is that on that day in question, the 1st Defendant was engaged in a quarrel with Mariama Setuah. The deceased approached the 2nd Defendant a father to the 1st Defendant to warn his daughter against beating the said Mariama Setuah since she was suffering from certain underlying conditions. This degenerated to a point where witnesses said they saw the 2nd Defendant holding the deceased tightly under his arm whilst the 1st Defendant hit him with a bench on his back, neck, and waist parts until he collapsed on the floor. He was rushed to the hospital for examination and treatment but died after a couple of days. During the trial, the new CPA Act, No.8 of 2024 came into force. Prosecution therefore intimates the court that Section 198 of the CPA 2024 has repealed the CPA of 1965. An application was made that the Jurors Presiding over the matter be discharged and the application was granted. Pursuant to section 133(a) of CPA 2024, It was ordered that the trial continue by Judge along. For their respective defences, the 1st Defendant elected to testify on oath and call a witness whilst the 2nd Defendant elected to rely on his statements made to the Police. The Defendants in the circumstance are found guilty. Defence counsel, Patrick Kamara, in his plea mitigation on behalf of the Convicts, pleaded with the court to temper Justice with mercy adding that the Convicts are father and daughter and the deceased a relative. He pleaded for a lenient sentence since they are remorseful.
Considering the guilty verdict returned against the two Convicts and the plea in mitigation done on behalf of both Convicts, Sarah Thompson and Solomon Thompson are jailed Fifteen (15) years imprisonment each.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 4th May 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
