High Court Denies Bail to Teen Accused of Sororicide

High Court Denies Bail to Teen Accused of Sororicide

Justice Andrew S.C. Johnson has denied bail to 18-year-old Rugiatu Bangura, who stands formally accused of the murder of her nine-year-old sister, Mariama Bangura. The defendant appeared before the High Court on Friday, October 31st, 2025, for the arraignment of her case.

Ms. Bangura faces a charge of murder, contrary to Section 1 of the Offences Against the Persons Act of 1816, as subsequently repealed and replaced by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act of 2022 (Act No. 6 of 2022). The alleged offense is reported to have taken place on September 21st, 2024, in the Western Area of Freetown.

Upon the reading of the charge, Rugiatu Bangura entered a plea of not guilty. The state prosecutor, Lawyer Idrissa A. Kamara, informed the court that the matter was at its preliminary stage, having only just received the case file. Consequently, the prosecution requested a brief adjournment to allow time for preparation and the efficient summoning of witnesses.

The defendant confirmed her relationship with the victim, stating that Mariama was her younger sister, sharing the same biological parents.

Defense counsel R.D. Taylor submitted a formal application for bail, arguing on the defendant's constitutional right to the presumption of innocence and her negligible risk of flight. Counsel Taylor asserted that, notwithstanding the grave nature of the allegation, bail remains permissible under Sierra Leonean jurisprudence, citing Section 23, Subsection 4 of the Sierra Leone Constitution (Act No. 6 of 1991).

Furthermore, the defense highlighted that Ms. Bangura is the mother and primary caregiver of a one-year-old child and also cares for her ailing mother. He stressed that she possesses a fixed address, has exhibited no prior attempt to evade justice, and would strictly comply with any conditions imposed by the court. Counsel also brought to the court's attention that the defendant was 17 years old at the time of the alleged incident and had recently given birth.

Lawyer Taylor grounded the bail application in Section 76(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act (2024) and associated bail regulations, assuring the court of the defendant’s availability for all legal proceedings.

However, Justice Johnson determined that while the offense is theoretically bailable, the granting of bail at this juncture would present a risk to both the defendant's personal safety and the integrity of the ongoing judicial investigation. Therefore, bail was formally denied, and the matter was adjourned to November 7th, 2025.

The court's decision underscores the seriousness of the charge and reflects the judiciary’s cautious approach to cases involving alleged familial violence.