By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter D.S
Detective Sergeant 6890 Lebbie Sahr Fofay, a systems and data analyst at the Cyber Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department, presented evidence before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1 on February 5, 2025, regarding the murder of James Conteh, also known as James Okeke.
The accused—Hassan Kamara, alias ‘Shine Face’, Fatmata Turay, Brima Kamara, Brima Tarawally, Abubakarr Kamara, and Samuel Turay—are facing two counts: conspiracy and murder. The charges allege that on March 1, 2024, at Ascension Town Cemetery in Freetown, the six conspired with unknown persons to commit murder, and subsequently murdered James Conteh.
During the proceedings, Prosecutor Deputy Superintendent of Police Ibrahim S. Mansaray led Detective Fofay in evidence, explaining his role in examining and analyzing digital evidence from electronic devices. On March 13, 2024, Fofay received a Techno Spark 10c mobile phone for forensic analysis and video transcription from Detective Inspector A.E. Conteh of the CID Central Police Station.
Fofay stated that the mobile phone was in good working order, and he extracted the subscriber SIM number, which belonged to one Chernor Kamara. Videos from the phone were transferred to a laptop, examined, and subsequently saved to a pen drive as confidential material.
As Fofay prepared to tender the report and pen drive as evidence, defense attorney Kofi objected, arguing that the phone should be present in court for the videos to be played, claiming a proper foundation had not been laid. However, Prosecutor Mansaray countered that this had already been addressed by a previous witness, and the pen drive was ultimately accepted by the court despite the objection.
Magistrate Kekura ruled against the defense’s objection, allowing the pen drive and report to be admitted as exhibits. The defense counsel, Kofi, opted to defer cross-examination until the next court date.
Bail was denied for the accused, who were remanded to the Male and Female Correctional Facility in Freetown. The case is scheduled to continue on February 11, 2025.
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