Kpaka Breaks Down as Intimate Messages Rock Murder Trial

Kpaka Breaks Down as Intimate Messages Rock Murder Trial

The murder trial of businessman Abdul Kpaka resumed on Wednesday at the High Court of Sierra Leone, exposing a series of emotionally charged messages that the defense asserts are central to understanding the relationship between the accused and the late Sia Fatu Kamara.

The proceedings focused heavily on a 45-page booklet of email exchanges and messages, admitted as Exhibit LL1–45. The defense read these documents in court, revealing intimate details regarding the victim’s health, emotional struggles, and her complex relationship with Kpaka.

At the start of the session, defense counsel Emmanuel Teddy Koroma requested permission for a witness to continue testimony, citing specific constraints faced by the witness. 

The application was opposed by the State, with Counsel Yousif Isaac Sesay emphasizing that such requests should be made only when necessary. The court proceeded to hear the defense’s reading of the messages, which had previously been admitted into evidence.

The messages, allegedly sent by the deceased between 2019 and 2024, depict a woman battling significant health issues and emotional distress. In a message dated July 11, 2019, she wrote, 

“I can’t sleep, my heart. I can’t breathe,” accompanied by a crying emoji. A day later, she expressed similar anguish, stating, “I can’t sleep, Kpaka. I can’t breathe properly.” 

These messages highlight her ongoing struggles and emotional dependence on the accused.

Further communications revealed her near-death experiences, with the victim recounting instances of pleading with Kpaka for help and missing classes due to her worsening condition. 

During the reading, Abdul Kpaka appeared visibly emotional, shedding tears in court as the messages describing her suffering were read aloud.

Additional messages documented her health complications, including swollen feet, high blood pressure, and hospital visits, often accompanied by pleas for medical assistance and forgiveness. 

The court also heard messages from March 2020, in which she expressed concern over her deteriorating health and requested emotional support from Kpaka. 

Messages from late 2020 showed her asking the accused to unblock her number and respond to her, indicating her desperation. 

However, the prosecution challenged some messages, arguing that certain entries lacked clear sender identification or dates, making their attribution to the deceased uncertain. 

Counsel raised objections to several messages on these grounds, prompting the court to scrutinize the authenticity and clarity of the evidence.

During the proceedings, Justice Alfred Ganda questioned whether Kpaka had responded to the messages read in court. Defense counsel explained that responses from the accused were documented separately in the exhibit, citing one message from Kpaka that read, 

“But you are using the same iPhone to send me these messages. Get yourself together and stand on what you believe. Get well soon babe.”

The court also heard a poignant message from February 17, 2022, in which the deceased expressed her desire for children with Kpaka and pleaded for forgiveness. 

As the message was read, Abdul Kpaka broke down emotionally again, highlighting the personal toll of the case. Messages from March 2024, in which the victim apologized for her actions and asked for forgiveness, were also presented, further illustrating the complex, deep and emotional nature of their relationship.

Given the time constraints, Justice Ganda advised the defense to set a future date for the continued hearing. 

The case was adjourned to July 8, 2026, to allow for further proceedings as the court prepares to delve deeper into the evidence surrounding this case.