Freetown, SIERRA LEONE — In the ongoing murder trial of Mousa Sewa, a 34-year-old businessman, the Police on Wednesday tendered crucial evidence, including the cause of death certificate, in connection with the death of Massah Massaquoi.
Testifying before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2, Inspector Rugiatu Sesay of the Homicide Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recounted the events leading to the investigation of the case. Inspector Sesay informed the court that on August 24, 2023, while on duty at the CID Headquarters, a murder report was filed concerning the death of Massaquoi, which was subsequently assigned to her for further investigation.
Inspector Sesay detailed how she gathered statements from the complainant and several witnesses, all of whom provided key information. On August 23, 2024, Inspector Sesay, accompanied by her colleague Inspector B. Foday and the complainant, visited the 34 Military Hospital in Freetown, where the deceased’s body was identified. The remains were then placed under postmortem examination.
A key moment in the investigation came on October 30, 2024, when Inspector Sesay and Detective Police Constable Hassan Bangura, the scene-of-crime officer, attended the autopsy performed by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma. At the end of the autopsy, the cause of death certificate was issued and handed over to the complainant. Inspector Sesay tendered this document as an exhibit, and it was officially entered into the court record.
The accused, Mousa Sewa, stands charged with murder, specifically for allegedly killing Massaquoi on August 18, 2023, at Qcell Pole, in Makeni, Bombali District, Northern Sierra Leone. When the charge was read to Sewa, he remained silent, and no plea was taken from him.
Inspector Sesay also shared additional details of the investigation. On September 7, 2024, she, along with Superintendent Arnold F. Bunda, visited the crime scene in Makeni, including a trip to New Hope Hospital in the city, before returning to Freetown for further investigation.
As part of the ongoing probe, Inspector Sesay conducted two interviews with the accused. On September 6, 2024, Sewa was interviewed contemporaneously, and at the conclusion of the interview, he admitted that the statement was true and accurate by affixing his thumbprint. A second statement was obtained from him on September 12, 2024, and, like the first, was read to him and confirmed by his thumbprint.
On October 8, 2024, Sewa was formally charged in court, and after the proceedings, Magistrate Bangura denied him bail, remanding him to the Male Correctional Center at Pademba Road.
The case has been adjourned to November 11, 2024, for further hearings.
Awoko
