By Emma Black

Santigie Kamara, a 35-year-old Operational Support Division (OSD) officer, made another appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, charged with one count of murder under Section 1 of the offences against the Person Act 1861, as amended by Section 1(a) of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021 (Act No. 6 of 2022).

The charge alleges that on January 19, 2025, at 555 Lorry Park, Waterloo, in Freetown’s Western Rural Area, Kamara murdered Francis Amara Kanneh, when the charge was read and explained, no plea was entered.

Sergeant 9939 Mohamed Lahai presented the sixth prosecution witness, Inspector Foday Bobor, from the Homicide Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters on Pademba Road, Freetown. Bobor testified that on February 14, 2025, he submitted a case and inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice, on February 21, 2025, he received the DPP’s guidance, which has since been held by the police and was produced and tendered as part of the court records, Bobor further stated that on February 24, 2025, he and Inspector Paul Amara Makieu formally charged Kamara with the murder offense. He obtained a charge statement from Kamara in Krio, recorded in English. After it was read back and explained, Kamara confirmed its accuracy by affixing his right-hand thumbprint, witnessed by the investigators. This statement was also tendered in court as part of the records.

Défense counsel W.C. Oluba Esq. cross-examined the witness. Magistrate Kekura denied bail, citing the severity of the charge, and remanded Kamara to the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The case was adjourned to April 9, 2025.