Concord Times (Freetown)
Ladenson Kamah
9 May 2008
The Njala university Bo campus student who allegedly stabbed a fellow student Chernoh Tonkara to death has made her first appearance before hon justice Naomi Tunis for the offense of murder contrary to law at the Bo high court.
On her appearance in court, Mahawa Mansaray was dressed in a long sleeve blue jean jacket, white head tie and black long trouser.
Defense counsel Abdulai Bangura pleaded with the bench to grant his client bail since the state could not provide the requisite environment for the progress of the matter.
Bangura said the state's inability to provide jurors to sit on the matter was an issue which could not allow his client to continue to suffer in prison as justice delayed is justice denied.
He quoted section 17 (1) of the laws of Sierra Leone which mandates the bench to grant bail to the accused person on discretional.
Acting principal state counsel and customary law officer south Monfred Sesay opposed Bangura's submission and application for bail was on two grounds: first that discretional bail depends on certain legal guidelines as provided in paragraph 203 of the 30th edition of the archibolds criminal proceedings law book and secondly the accused might jump bail to neighboring countries and that will be injustice to the state.
The acting state counsel succumbed to the absence of the twelve jurors but the bail must not be granted due to the seriousness of the matter.
Justice Tunis having listened to both side resolved at seizing bail for the accused.
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