Pressure mounts on Bola Nicol”s murder trial

By Feima Sesay

Lawyer A . Jalloh state prosecutor in the ongoing murder case of Sinnah Kai Kargbo involving former sky bank manager Ikubokaje Nicol has on Tuesday 12th March 2024 informed Justice Adrain Fisher, presiding judge over the matter, that they would take another line of action on the matter.

Shortly after the matter was mentioned, the state Counsel Jalloh said the Prosecution team bowed to the ruling given by the court at the last hearing for the accused to continue the trial of murder instead of manslaughter and they asked leave for an adjournment to take another line of action in the matter.

In response, defense Counsel Roland Wright said the judgment was delivered last week and the prosecution should have prepared themselves if they intend taking another line of action in the matter.

He said the prosecution are delaying the trial of the innocent man.
Defense Counsel said if the court was adjourning the matter based on the application made by the state, he would also apply for bail to be granted to his client.

He added that now that the state best hope in the matter was for a lesser offense of his client, he would also apply for bail to be granted to him.

State Counsel Jalloh also said that the ruling had been given and defense Counsel should not go into it again.

He said they were only seeking an adjournment for another line of action in the interest of justice of the accused.

Roland Wright said the accused was never given the opportunity to grieve and he was never given the opportunity to attend the funeral either and the prosecution were seeking the interest of justice on his behalf.

State Counsel Jalloh said they would proceed with the matter at the next adjourned date but still relied on their affidavit that is before the court indicating the refusal of bail being granted to the accused.

He said the matter came up by a procedure of committal from the Magistrate Court and if there was need they would file additional witnesses to testify before the court.

Justice Adrian Fisher said this statement made by state Counsel was an undertaking and informed them that they should proceed on the next adjourned date.

Justice Fisher pleaded with the jurors to be patient on the matter adding that the state has given their word that they would proceed with the matter on next adjourned date.

The accused remanded and the matter was adjourned to Tuesday 19 March, 2024.