AYV News, December 3, 2024
High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Amy Wright (J) has commenced Call Over of fifty two (52) criminal cases brought before the High Court marking the opening of the November 2024 High Court Criminal Calendar.
The High Court ‘call over’ of cases is for the purpose of the Presiding Judge taking the pleas of all accused persons committed for trial by Magistrates’ Courts, and those whose indictments were proffered with the consent in writing of a Judge.
Where an accused person has pleaded guilty to any offence, the Presiding Judge is entitled to proceed to sentencing. Where there’s been a not guilty plea, the Presiding Judge adjourns the trial to a specific date when the case will come up before a Judge to whom the case will be assigned.
Sixty seven-one (67) accused persons are before the court for various criminal offences including conspiracy, murder, robbery with aggravation, larceny, house & office breaking, fraudulent conversion, wounding with intent and unlawful possession of drugs among others.
There were thirty-four (34) cases involving forty-seven (47) accused persons indicted for various forms of Larceny, putting it top of the list of offences committed for this session.
Additionally, four (4) accused persons were arraigned for the offence of Unlawful Possession of Drugs, three (3) for Fraudulent Conversion and two (2) for murder.
Amadu Lorrence Williams, Ibrahim Conteh and Osman Bangura pleaded guilty to the offence of Unlawful Possession of Drugs upon his arraignment and his matter adjourned to Thursday, 28th November for recording and sentence. Sulaiman Turay, Saidu Sesay, Chernor Koroma, Albert Sam, Alhaji Nallo, Tommy Patrick Musa, Sylvester Pessima, and Alpha Koroma who are before the court for various forms of larceny pleaded guilty and their files reserved for recording and sentence.
The Criminal Session comes four times every year, and it gives the opportunity to accused persons whose cases are committed to the High Court through an indictment to have their day in court.
