By Feima Sesay
Detective Inspector Abu Bakarr Kargbo has on Tuesday 11th March 2025 testified before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road Court No1 against Joseph Mendel Lamin former station manager of VOPAD radio and two others who allegedly killed journalist Samuel Brima Mattia.
The accused Joseph Mendel Lamin, also known as “Manager Dust,” along with a motorbike rider Morlia Kamara and driver Umaru Timbo are facing two counts charges of “conspiracy to commit murder and murder, under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as amended by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021.””
The State prosecution alleged that all the accused persons on January 15, 2025, at the Voice of Peace and Development (VOPAD) Radio Station in Kissi Town, Waterloo, conspired with others to murder journalist Samuel Brima Mattia.
Detective Police Inspector Abubakarr Kargbo in his testimony led by Inspector Kadie Taylor said he is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Freetown.
He identified the complainant and further recognized the accused.
He recalled the 17th January 2025, stating that while on duty together with Inspector Paul A. Markieu, they received a transferred case and an inquiry file related to the murder case.
The file he said contained statements from the complainant and witnesses, as well as a voluntary caution statement from the first accused. The case he said also included key exhibits:
A Dell laptop computer belonging to the deceased, black backpack, yellow plastic bucket containing a liquid suspected to be contaminated with human blood, four metal weightlifting plates, two sticks, one electrical cable and a large white rice bag that was allegedly used to wrap the victim’s body.
Further investigations led to the suspected blood sample being sent to forensic analysts for examination, with the forensic report tendered in court as Exhibit A.
According to him, on the 20th January 2025, the first accused was escorted to the CID by Inspector Conteh for further questioning.
At this juncture, the Prosecution requested an adjournment for continually of the evidence.
Magistrate Kekura remanded the accused in prison whiles the matter was adjourned to March 17, 2025.
