Young Men Sentenced For Murder

By: Munya Bawoh

Two accused persons, Ibrahim Mustapha a honda mechanic, aged 20 years and Joseph Boima, farmer, aged 18 years have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the presiding high court Judge, Hon. Justice Abdul Sheriff of the high court in Kenema for murder contrary to law.

The two accused were standing trial for conspiracy and murder contrary to law. According to prosecution, Ibrahim Mustapha and Joseph Boima on Sunday, June 21, 2025, along Lalehun and Bumpeh village, Lower Bambara Chiefdom, Kenema Judicial District in the Eastern province, Conspired with unknown persons to commit a felony with Murder. Both the accused were found guilty and Sentenced to life imprisonment.

In his Judgement, Justice Abdul Sheriff, summing-up to the Jury, on Monday, July 7, 2025, said, “Mr. Foreman and members of the Jury, the accused persons stands charged with the count of conspiracy contrary to law and one count of murder contrary to law. Both Accused persons pleaded not guilty to both counts respectively.

“The burden of proof is on the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused and for the prosecution to succeed, the Judge said the prosecution must prove his case beyound reasonable doubt. In a criminal trial, the burden of establishing the guilt of the accused rests on the prosecution and failure to discharge that burden should lead to the acquittal of the accused adding that such proof should be beyound reasonable doubt.”

The two young men in the matter left their village to Kono in search of greener pastures. On their way, they suggested and agreed on eliminating a bike rider to take the motor bike away in order to start new life in Kono. Immediately after the agreement, the deceased persons was halted by the accused persons who asked him(Bike Rider) to take them to Tongo whilst entirely of the evidence before the court. The bike rider, Mustapha Denis was attacked and stabbed on the neck by one of the accused . He collapsed and fell on the ground and was taken into the savanah grass and left to die. News of the incident went round and the two accused persons were arrested at the check point in Tongo whilst leaving the motor bike.

The foreman and members of the Jury who are not legal officers but were given direction with regards to the law and that they must decides from the facts coming out of law in evidence in the court. The jurors returned with a unanimous verdict of guilty.
The matter was prosecuted by Andrew.F. Kamara, State Counsel and Customary Law Officer in Kenema District whilst the two accused persons were represented by Defence Counsel, Samuel. S. Pessima of Legal Aid Board for Kenema and Kailahun District respectively.