The trial of Abu Bakarr Yillah, a 47-year-old police officer attached to the Operations Division at Kambia Police Station, resumed on Monday, September 2, 2024, at Pademba Road Court No. 2. Magistrate Santigie Bangura presided over the case, which involves the alleged murder of Fasineh Bangura.
Yillah is charged with one count of murder under Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, as amended by Section 1(a) of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021. The indictment alleges that on July 13, 2022, in Yana Village, Tambakha Yombagie Chiefdom, Karene Judicial District, Yillah killed Fasineh Bangura.
During the proceedings, Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh presented Mohamed Lamin Kamara, a public servant from NASSIT, as the prosecution’s first witness. Kamara, who identified Fasineh Bangura as his cousin, recounted events from the day of the incident. He described a violent clash between military and police personnel and local residents during a Paramount Chieftaincy election dispute. Kamara testified that the accused, Yillah, shot Bangura in the head after police forcibly removed Bangura from his room. Kamara reported the incident to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and was involved in the postmortem examination of the deceased.
The witness was cross-examined by C. Kamara Esq., representing the accused. Foday Abubakarr Kamara, another witness, testified that he saw Yillah with a pistol during the incident and observed him shooting the deceased. Foday also mentioned being threatened by Yillah but managed to escape.
Kadiatu Kamara, a neighbor of the deceased, also testified that she saw the police and soldiers attacking their village and witnessed the deceased covered in blood.
Magistrate Santigie Bangura refused bail for Yillah, citing the severity of the charges. The accused has been remanded to the male correctional facility in Freetown. The case has been adjourned to September 10, 2024.
