By Mohamed Mansaray in Kenema

Two individuals, Sheku Sesay, aged 20, and Mohamed Lissa, both residents of No. 20 Foday Kabba Street, Burma 3 Section, Kenema, were arraigned before Justice Abdul Sheriff at the High Court in Kenema, on July 28, 2022, they faced charges of murder contrary to law for the alleged killing of Mustapha Koroma in Kenema City, Nongowa Chiefdom, Kenema Judicial District, Eastern Province of Sierra Leone.

During the trial, Justice Abdul Sheriff addressed the jury, explaining that both accused pleaded not guilty to the single count of murder. He clarified that the burden of proof rested with the prosecution to establish the guilt of the accused. The judge emphasized that jurors, as judges of fact, were not legally trained and provided a detailed explanation of the legal definition of murder to guide their deliberations. After retiring to deliberate, the jury returned with a verdict. The foreman announced that Sheku Sesay, the first accused, was found guilty, while Mohamed Lissa, the second accused, was found not guilty.

Defense counsel Samuel S. Pessima of the Legal Aid Board, representing Sheku Sesay, pleaded for leniency, urging the court to temper justice with mercy. However, Justice Abdul Sheriff, considering the jury’s guilty verdict, sentenced Sheku Sesay to life imprisonment. Mohamed Lissa was acquitted and discharged based on the jury’s not guilty verdict. The prosecution was led by Andrew F. Kamara, State Counsel and Customary Law Officer in Kenema District. The defense was represented by Samuel S. Pessima of the Legal Aid Board, Lawyer Augustine Gowa, and Lawyer S.G. Kamanda.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday,6th August 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)