Freetown, Sierra Leone – An officer from the Operations Support Division (OSD), Santigie Kamara, has been formally charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of his brother, Francis Amara Kanneh.
The charge, which falls under Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861—amended by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021 (Act No. 6 of 2022)—was read in court, though the accused refrained from entering a plea.
According to court proceedings, the incident occurred on January 19, 2025, at 555 Lorry Park in Waterloo, within the western rural district of Freetown.
During the hearing, Sergeant 8576 Issa Kamara, an officer stationed at the Grafton Police Barracks and assigned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) exhibit office on Pademba Road, testified regarding the handling of key evidence.
Sergeant Kamara disclosed that on February 4, 2025, he received multiple exhibits from Inspector Foday B. of the CID’s homicide unit, including an AK47 rifle, two spent bullet casings, a bloodstained chair, a magazine, four live rounds, and a spent bullet. These items were officially documented under the exhibit registry serial number RCE 014/2025 and have remained in police custody.
Following the presentation of evidence, Magistrate Kekura denied bail for the accused and ordered his remand at the male correctional facility in Freetown.
The case has been adjourned until March 27, 2025.
