Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications, Main Law Courts Building, Freetown, 29th January 2024: High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Amy Wright has today commenced proceedings (Call Over) on fifty (50) criminal cases brought before the High Court marking the opening of the January 2024 High Court Criminal calendar.

The High Court ‘call over’ of cases is for the Presiding Judge to take the pleas of all accused persons committed for trial by Magistrates’ Courts and those whose indictments were preferred with the consent in writing of a Judge. Where an accused person has pleaded guilty to any offense, the Presiding Judge is entitled to proceed to sentencing. Where there has been a not-guilty plea, the Presiding Judge has adjourned the trial to a specific date when the case will come up before a Judge to whom the case will be assigned.

Seventy-one (71) accused persons are before the court for various criminal offenses including murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, robbery with aggravation, larceny, house & office breaking, fraudulent conversion, wounding with intent, and unlawful possession of drugs among others.

The record reveals that eleven (11) cases involving sixteen (16) accused persons were indicted for unlawful possession of drugs, putting it top on the list of offenses committed for this session.

Additionally, thirty-nine (39) other files with fifty-five accused persons have been indicted, nine (9) of which are cases of fraudulent conversion, nine cases (9) of larceny, one (1) of murder, and none for sexual penetration.

Idrissa Kamara and Mohamed Kamara, who are before the court for the offense of housebreaking and larceny both pleaded guilty. Their files have been reserved for recording and sentence.

The Criminal Session comes four times every year, and it gives the opportunity to accused persons whose cases are committed to the High Court through an indictment to be in court.

For more inquiries, contact Judiciary Communications at +23278244739/+23234617548/+23279101086 or visit our website at www.judiciary.gov.sl

Source: https://www.judiciary.gov.sl/?p=1572