By Mohamed Mansaray Kenema
Hon Justice Abdul Sheriff, Kenema High Court Judge
Two young men, Ibrahim Mustapha, a 20-year-old motorbike mechanic, and Joseph Boima, an 18-year-old farmer, have been sentenced to life imprisonment by Hon. Justice Abdul Sheriff of the Kenema High Court for the offence of murder, contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The pair was found guilty on charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and murder, following a gruesome incident that occurred on Sunday, July 21, 2024, between Lalehun and Bumpeh villages in the Lower Bambara Chiefdom, Kenema District.
According to the prosecution, Mustapha and Boima conspired with unknown individuals to murder Mustapha Denis, a commercial motorbike rider. The two had allegedly planned to travel to Kono in search of better opportunities and devised a plot to steal a motorbike to support their relocation.
The court heard that after flagging down the deceased and requesting a ride to Tongo, the accused attacked and stabbed him in the neck, dragging his body into the nearby savannah grasslands where they left him to die. The duo was later apprehended at a checkpoint in Tongo while attempting to flee with the stolen motorbike.
Delivering his judgment on Monday, July 7, 2025, Justice Abdul Sheriff told the court, Mr. Foreman and members of the jury, the accused persons are charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of murder. They both pleaded not guilty. The burden lies with the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
He stressed that in a criminal trial, the burden of proof rests solely on the prosecution, and any failure to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt must result in acquittal, however, the evidence presented was deemed overwhelming. After careful deliberation and legal guidance from the presiding judge, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty for both accused.
The case was prosecuted by Andrew F. Kamara, State Counsel and Customary Law Officer for Kenema District, he accused were represented by Defence Counsel Samuel S. Pessima of the Legal Aid Board, covering both Kenema and Kailahun Districts, the sentencing marks another significant moment in Sierra Leone’s ongoing efforts to deliver justice and deter violent crime, especially in rural communities.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday,11th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
