By Emma Black
Mabinty Turay, a businesswoman, and Jonathan John, a technician, appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown, facing three charges: causing grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The charges, brought under Section 47 of the Offences against the Persons Act 1861, stem from an incident allegedly occurring on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at No. 6 Crooked Lane in Freetown’s Western Area.
According to the particulars of the offense, the couple is accused of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm on Salaymatu Bangura. Additional counts allege they maliciously wounded and assaulted her, resulting in actual bodily harm, when the charges were read and explained, no pleas were entered by the accused.
The prosecution, led by Sergeant 8811 Florence M. Wilson, called its first witness, Salaymatu Bangura, also a businesswoman and a next-door neighbor to the accused. She recounted the events of March 1, 2025, testifying that the trouble began when she confronted Mabinty Turay over loud music blaring from her apartment, Salaymatu stated that as she attempted to leave through the gate, Mabinty pushed her.
After re-entering her room and being pushed again, she dropped her mobile phone. As she bent to retrieve it, she felt a sharp slap across her face, causing a temporary blackout. She alleged that Mabinty then bit her stomach, and moments later, Jonathan John joined in, kicking her in the same area, leaving her in severe pain.
Bleeding and shaken, Salaymatu reported the incident to Ross Road Police Station.
An officer photographed her injuries using a mobile phone and issued a police medical request form, she sought treatment at Connaught Hospital, where a doctor examined her and completed a medical report.
A subsequent scan, presented in court alongside the police photos for identification, further documented her injuries. Salaymatu later provided a formal statement to the police.
The defense was represented by A. Samba Esq. No cross-examination details were provided in this hearing.
Magistrate Bangura granted bail to both accused, setting it at 100,000 Leones each with two sureties in the same amount, sureties must reside in Freetown and provide valid identification showing their address, with bail approval delegated to the Deputy Assistant Registrar, the case was adjourned to April 3, 2025.