AYV News, March 25, 2026
A mother, Adamsay Jalloh, has been committed to the High Court to face trial over the alleged murder of her child, following the establishment of a prima facie case by the Mile 91 Magistrate Court.
His Worship Magistrate Harold Kamara delivered the ruling on March 23, 2026, ordering that Jalloh, a resident of Malanchor Village, be remanded in custody pending her trial. The matter, filed under case number C/S 112/2025, was instituted by the Sierra Leone Police on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police.
The prosecution, led by Sub-Inspector I.F. Bangura, presented multiple exhibits, including witness statements, the accused’s voluntary cautioned statement, police investigation reports, crime scene photographs, and advice from State Counsel. Jallohfaces a charge of murder contrary to Section 1(a) of the schedule to the Abolition of Death Penalty Act 2021. Due to the indictable nature of the offence, no plea was taken at the committal stage.
Magistrate Kamara noted that the purpose of committal proceedings is not to determine guilt or innocence, but to assess whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant a High Court trial, in line with the Criminal Procedure Act 2024.
Court proceedings revealed that the deceased child, identified as Mabinty Kamara, was last seen in the custody of her mother. Prosecution witnesses testified that the child went missing while under Jalloh’s care, and that she provided conflicting accounts regarding the child’s whereabouts.
In her voluntary cautioned statement, Jalloh allegedly admitted that the child died during the night and that she secretly buried the body in the bush without informing authorities or family members. Police investigations subsequently led to the recovery of a decomposed body at the location identified by Jalloh, with photographic evidence presented in court.
Magistrate Kamara held that the evidence sufficiently established the fact of death, the circumstances surrounding it, and the conduct of the accused before and after the incident, including the concealment of the body—factors raising strong suspicion of unlawful killing.
While observing that the accused appeared to exhibit signs of mental disorder, the magistrate noted that no medical evidence had been presented to substantiate a defence of insanity or unfitness to plead. These issues are expected to be addressed by the trial judge at the High Court.
“Accordingly, I hereby commit the defendant, AdamsayJalloh, to stand trial before the High Court for the offence of murder,” Magistrate Kamara ruled.
The accused remains in custody pending trial.
