Police alleged that the first accused person, Alakeh Olive Johnson, her son Omar Eustace Masjid Cole and six others conspired with other persons unknown to murder pharmacist Adeyemi Patrick Johnson in November 2015, at his 65 Old Railway Line residence at Wilberforce in the west end of Freetown.
This press gathered that since the commencement of the trial of Alakeh Olive Johnson and seven others in 2015, the prosecution and the defense have not done much to ensure a speedy trail, and in most cases the prosecuting team and the defense lawyer could not be seen court to proceed with the trial process, coupled with protracted adjournments.
Some jurors who begged for anonymity confided to this medium that they are very constrained to perform their civic responsibility, due to the lack of transportation, launch and other incentives required of them.
“ I reside at waterloo in the outskirt of Freetown and sometimes I find it very difficult to board a vehicle to come to Freetown, and most importantly the leadership of the Sierra Leone Judiciary should wake up from it deep slumber and consider them as stakeholders in the administration of justice in Sierra Leone,” one of the jurors asserted.
The state was represented by I Kanneh whiles the accused was defended by lawyer F B Conteh.
Justice Sam Margai adjourned the matter to Tuesday 16 January 2018.
In another development, Justice Sam Margai has on Tuesday 9 January 2018, remanded Alie Sesay at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown for allegedly murdering Noel Lahai.
The accused murdered Noel Lahai on 28 October 2015 in the Freetown judicial district in the republic of Sierra Leone by using a very dangerous implement to stabbed deceased on his stomach and upper eye lash area leaving the deceased in the pool of his own blood.
He was initially charged to court with the offence of murder, but when the court looked into the circumstances leading to the death of Noel Lahai, it reduced the murder charge to manslaughter.
During the proceedings, the accused lawyer H Dabor canvassed the presiding judge to admit his Client on bail on the grounds that his Client is Sierra Leonean and a first time offender of the law, who will not jump bail nor interfere with prosecution witnesses.
He said if bail is granted to his Client, he will always make himself available to the court on every adjourned date, and furthered that the accused has reliable and credible sureties who are ready and willing to enter into recognizance on his behalf.
However, the state prosecutor, A G M Bockarie objected to the bail application of H Dabor on behalf of his Client.
Justice Sam Margai however denied the accused bail and ordered that the accused Alie Sesay be relocated to the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown.
The matter comes up again on Tuesday 16th January 2018.
