By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
Three students, including a 16-year-old boy charged with murdering his adoptive mother, were remanded at the Pademba Road Male Correctional Centre in connection with the brutal killing of Valentina Bisodun Catherine Kamanda, a prominent matron and university lecturer.
During a hearing on March 16, 2026, before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1, 16-year-old Goodluck Richard Nicol, along with fellow student Gerrald Tommy Tucker and 19-year-old Bokarie Musa, faced multiple charges: conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and receiving stolen property.
The charges stem from the tragic events of February 8, 2026, when Mrs. Kamanda was found slain in her home in Adonkia, Goderich. A respected figure in both the medical and academic communities, Kamanda served as Matron at Connaught Hospital and was a dedicated lecturer at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS).
According to police investigations, it is alleged that Nicol, the victim’s adopted son residing in the household, confessed to attacking her with a pestle. Reports also indicated that another child in the home suffered significant injuries during the incident and required medical attention.
While the Sierra Leone Police initially ruled out robbery as a motive, court proceedings have disclosed evidence suggesting otherwise. Bokarie Musa is accused of receiving stolen items belonging to Mrs. Kamanda, which reportedly include a grey Lenovo laptop, an Apple iPad, an off-white iPhone, and three Samsung mobile phones.
During the court session, prosecutor C.S.P. Tommy B. Zizer presented the case to the unrepresented defendants, who had the charges read and clarified. Magistrate Jah denied bail, citing the gravity of the allegations, and ordered the three teenagers to remain in custody.
The violent death of Mrs. Kamanda has ignited widespread outrage and grief throughout Freetown’s medical, academic, and religious communities. Remembered as a compassionate professional and a devoted member of the Zion Praise Tabernacle Church, her murder has prompted calls from civil society groups and nursing associations for swift justice and improved residential security measures.
The case has been adjourned until March 17, 2026, for further hearings.
For more information, please contact Daily Scope Newspaper at dailyscopemedia@gmail.com.
