By Richmond Brima Tholley

The Tonkolili District Resident Magistrate, Samuel Koroma has remanded Kadiatu Adamsay Mansaray, an SSS 3 pupil of the Sylvanus Secondary school Makeni, who was alleged to have murdered Marion Gbla, a three months old suckling mother and school pupil, residing in Matotoka town, Tane chiefdom, Tonkolili district, Northern Sierra Leone.

The accused Adamsay, who made her second appearance on Thursday 12th February, 2020, was charged by personnel of the Criminal Investigation Department, Magburaka police station, on one count of murder contrary to law.

According to the particulars of offence, the accused Kadiatu Adamsay Mansaray, on Thursday 13th February 2020, murdered decease, Marion Gbla in Matotoka town, Tane chiefdom, in the Tonkolili judicial district, Northern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Testifying in court, detective Sgt.7846 Nathaniel Lamin, police officer attached at the Criminal investigation Department, Magburaka police station, said he recognized the accused person in the dock in respect of the matter in question.

He said he also recalled on Thursday 13th , February 2020, at about 1800 hours, he was on duty at Magburaka police station, when a report of an alleged murder  involving one Marion Gbla (deceased)  was made by one Amadu Thullah, who described himself as a Community Health Officer (CHO) attached at the Matotoka Community Health post.

The matter he said was assigned to him by the Crime Officer, Assistance Superintendent of police, Abdul Kassim Sesay for investigation. On the said date, he told the court that, himself and the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO), attached at the Magburaka police station, DPC 17635 Juldeh Brim Sesay left for Matotoka town to visit the scene of crime.

Whiles in Matotoka, he said they visited Fullah town section, residence of the decease, where they were informed that the remains of the decease have been conveyed at the Matotoka hospital. Photographs of the scene of crime, including the bed room of the deceased, where she was allegedly murdered by the accused, were taken by the scene of crime officer and the room according to the police officer was scattered.

From that stage, he said himself and Sesay visited the hospital in Matotoka, where upon their arrival at the hospital, they saw the remains of deceased wrapped and laid down on a bed like stretcher with wound marks on the neck.

He said he instructed again for photographs to be taken and it was done by the officer in charge of that (the SOCO). At that moment, Nathaniel said the medical officer in Matotoka town, Amdau Thullah officially pronounced Marion Gbla dead.

On the same date, he said the body of late Marion Gbla was conveyed at the Magburaka Government Hospital for autopsy and postmortem examinations.

Later, he said a certificate of cause of death was issued to the police by Doctor John F. Yillah, the medical pathologist attached at the Magburaka Government hospital, which he said stated clearly that deceased did not die a natural death. The body was handed over to the family for burial.

On the following day, he said they got an intelligence that the accused was suspected to have murdered the decease, and she was arrested and interrogated. Later, a case of enquiry file was sent to the State Counsel and Customary Law officer in Northeast region for advice, whiles accused was in detention. The case of enquiry file was later issued out by the State counsel to the Crime Officer, whom he said advice the police for suspect to be charged with the offence of murder contrary to law.

On the 3rd March 2020, he said the accuse was withdrawn from police cell and made charge statements. Accuse, he said was cautioned and questioned; and later charged with the offence of murder. During investigation, he said the accused confessed to have killed the deceased for what she (accused) called the stubbornness of decease to stay away from her boyfriend, one Alhaji Turay, who was also in detention in respect of the same matter, but released later.

During interrogation, the accused was said to have attempt in bribing the police with one old black Dell computer, which was tendered in court as evidence. However, investigation carried conducted by this medium reveals, both accused and decease had been fighting over Alhaji Turay, and she admitted to have murdered decease because of the said Alhaji. Meanwhile, family members and relatives of late Marion Gbla, mostly young people stormed the court house and angrily called on the court and police to bring out the decease for a possible mob justice.

Kadiatu Adamsay Mansaray as they threatened to avenged the death of their love one. The matter is adjourned to today 17th February 2020.