Police alleged that the two accused persons brutally murdered Hanna Bockarie three years ago, and deposited her remains at the Lumley beach in the west end of Freetown capital, contrary to offences against persons act 1861 of the laws of Sierra Leone.
The presiding judge decision to discharge the eleven man panel of jurors was as a result of continuous absence and lethargic attitude of juror to form a quorum and proceed with various murder cases on several adjourned dates.
When the matter involving the accused was mentioned before Justice John Bosco Allieu for further proceedings, on Monday 24 July 2017, only few jurors turned up in court to proceed with the matter, thereby making it impossible for the judge to adjudicate the said murder case, as the jurors could not form a quorum for further proceedings.
The judge also expressed frustration over the non appearance of prosecution witness or witnesses to expedite several murder trials, and he was discharging the jurors for non compliance and failure to perform their civic responsibility.
Due to current development apparently impeding proceedings on murder and other felonious offences, the presiding judge had shifted proceeding on Hannah Bockarie’s alleged murder case to the next criminal session of the High Court of Sierra Leone which will commence in September 2017.
Similarly, Justice Sam Margai of the High Court of Sierra Leone who is adjudicating the murder trial of Alakeh Olive Johnson and seven accused persons had stated that he would consider a different line of action on the next adjourned date, if the prosecution failed to bring forward witness or witnesses to proceed with the matter.
Alakeh Olive Johnson and seven accused persons were facing various criminal offences ranging from conspiracy to commit a felony to wit murder, and robbery with aggravation, contrary to the country’s criminal procedure act.
Police also alleged all eight accused persons allegedly murdered pharmacist, Adeyemi Patrick Jojnson at his N0.65 Old Railway Line residence at Wilberforce in the west part of Freetown, on Monday 12 November 2012.
Justice Sam Margai told the court that he wanted to expedite with the said murder trial, but that he was always encountering problems from the prosecution and the jurors, as sometimes the prosecution would not bring forward it witness or witnesses for testimony, as well as jurors who would boycott court proceedings, with no valid justification for their conspicuous absence.