Forensic Expert Reveals Cause of Death in Murder Trial
An 18-centimetre wound to Ibrahim Sorie Kamara’s left forearm severed an artery, causing severe blood loss that led to his death, a forensic expert has told the High Court in Freetown.
Testifying on Tuesday, forensic analyst Dr Simeon Owizz Koroma told the court that Kamara died from acute haemorrhagic shock after a wound severed the radial artery in his left forearm.
Dr Koroma gave the testimony during the murder trial of Abdul Bangura before Justice Mohamed Bawoh. Bangura is charged with murdering Kamara in Freetown on 3 February 2025 under Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as amended by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2022.
Testifying under examination-in-chief by State Counsel A. Taylor, Dr Koroma said the Sierra Leone Police requested him on 19 February 2025 to conduct a postmortem examination. He said no family member was present to identify the body, but two investigators from the Criminal Investigation Department at Grafton Police Station attended.
The postmortem examination revealed an 18-centimetre lacerated wound on Kamara’s left forearm. According to Dr Koroma, the injury severed the radial artery, resulting in profuse bleeding and acute haemorrhagic shock.
He told the court that he found no pre-existing disease or medical condition that could have contributed to or hastened Kamara’s death. He classified the death as unnatural and “evidently homicidal.”
Dr Koroma identified the medical cause of death as acute haemorrhagic shock resulting from extensive bleeding caused by a homicidal wound to the forearm.
Following his testimony, defence counsel Taylor Young cross-examined the forensic expert. The matter was adjourned to 10 November 2026 for further proceedings.
The testimony forms part of the evidence being presented in the case. The charge against Bangura remains an allegation to be determined by the court.
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