By Feima Sesay
The lead defense Lawyer for Former deputy Minister of Finance Patricia Laverly has on Wednesday 4th December 2024 pleaded with the court for an adjourment in order to settle the matter out of court.
Lawyer Leon Jenkins Johnston made this plea to the Court after the matter was mentioned and the former deputy Minister was absent again in court.
Some observers see her absence as defying the court order .
Despite this development, Magistrate Bangura has been very considerate on two occasions to request that she appears in court in her own interest .
In the last adjournment, the Magistrate said that if the accused was not in court on Monday 2nd December 2024, he would issue a warrant of arrest for her .
Lawyer Johnston had informed the court that there his team in the process of seeking an action that may bring an out of court resolution.
He further sought the court permission and pleaded an adjournment to next Monday to allow him purse their reconciliation peace talks.
State Lawyer Yusuf Sesay argued that they are ready to work in line with a the line of action the defense wants to take to bring the case to a settlement.
He said as prosecution they are not adverse to anything that will bring justice to the matter, adding that they would love to see that line of action on Monday.
He said the line of action the defense wants to take must tally with the order of the court to bring the accused to court to ensure justice is served to his the minister.
In a criminal law, he said , it is written that a matter cannot proceed in court without the accused .
Magistrate Bangura having listened to both sides, said he hoped that the next line of action taken by the defense would be fruitful.
He however granted the application for an adjournment to resolve the said matter.
The matter was adjourned to the 9th December 2024.
