By: Mohamed Mansaray in Kenema

The High Court Judge in Kenema, Hon. Justice France Banks-Kamara on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, handed down forty-five years’ imprisonment on Abdulai Ibrahim for Murder contrary to Law.

The particulars of offence stated that the accused, Abdulai Ibrahim a farmer of Tojobu village on December 9, 2022 at Tojobu, Nongowa Chiefdom, Kenema Judicial District in the Eastern province of the Republic of Sierra Leone, murdered one Lahai Bockarie.

State Counsel and Customary Law Officer in Kenema District, Mathew. P.M. Lappia reminded members of the Jury that the accused person stands charged with the offence of Murder in respect of one Lahai Bockarie. He told the Jurors that it was his duty to explain to them What the prosecution seeks to prove against the Accused Person but before doing so, he hastened to tell them that on a charge of Murder, it is the duty of the prosecution to prove the Accused Person guilty beyond reasonable doubt, subject to the Defence of insanity and any statutory exception.

In his Judgement, Justice Banks Kamara told the court that in the absence of Death Penalty to Murder, the Convention was even if a plea of guilty is entered, the Court should not go ahead with not guilty.

The Accused Person was represented by Defence Counsel, Patrick Kamara of Legal Aid Board for Kenema District.

Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)