By Feima Sesay
Hawanatu Hawa Koroma, a 27 years old trader made another appearance again before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba road Court No2 for setting ablaze her husband Nabieu Bangura that later led to his death.
The accused was in the dock on one count charge of murder contrary to section 1 of the offences against the persons act 1816 as repealed and replaced by section (1a) of the schedule of the abolition of the death penalty act 2021, Act No 6 of 2022.
The Court said that the accused on Friday, 22nd November 2024, Back of Leicester Peak Junction, Hill Station . Freetown, murdered Nabieu Bangura.
The Prosecution witness No 3 Saidu Bangura, who was led in evidence by Detective Suprintendent of Police Sorie Conteh said he is a petty trader and the deceased Nabieu Bangura was his younger brother.
He recognized the accused as the wife of the deceased and further recalled Friday 22nd November 2024.
The witness said he was in Kamakwei when he received a telephone called from one Moses Kamara who gave him information that the deceased had been set ablaze .
Upon receipt of the information, the witness said he came and met the deceased at Connaught hospital.
” when i arrived and asked the deceased as to what transferred, he told me that it was the accused who set him ablazed and i further enquired if they had any dispute and he told me that they had no dispute “, he stated.
Explaining further, the witness said he was told by the deceased that after he had arrived home from work, the accused persistently accused him of having a girlfriend but that he later walked off in the bed room and slept in the shop.
According to the witness, while the deceased was asleep, he felt a touch on his body and realized that the accused pouring something on him; he continued that, he immediately got up and asked the accused why she was pouring water on him what he thought was water.
“The accused then scratched a match and threw it on him and he blazed on fire; she then closed the door at him after setting him on fire”, the witness said.
He further explained that it was the neighbors who came, broke opened the door and took him out of the blazing fire ; rushed him to the Emergency hospital before he was later transferred to the Connaught hospital.
He said the doctors at Connaught hospital later who informed him that the deceased was burnt severely to 90 degree . ‘’he died after one week, he said.
He also revealed that, his brother suffered burnt all over his body and that he even witnessed the postmortem examination where snap shots of the remains were later.
The said photos and death certificate of the deceased were produced and tendered in court respectively to formed part of the prosecution’s case.
The witness said he later made statement at the Akon Police Post.
The accused who was not represented by any Lawyer, was asked by the Court whether she had questions for the witness; she replied in the negative.
The matter was adjourned to the 28th January 2025 whiles the accused was remanded in prison.
