Six Accused in Reverend's Murder Case Referred to High Court

Six Accused in Reverend's Murder Case Referred to High Court

Six individuals have been referred to the High Court of Sierra Leone in connection with the murder of Reverend Father Augustine Dauda Amadu. Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown issued the committal order following proceedings on Monday.

The accused are Martin Sellu, Gbassay Swarray, Foday Sallu, John Bangalie alias Boika, Joseph Gilamaja Kamara alias Shine, and Foday Alhassan Sesay. They face several grave charges, including conspiracy to commit robbery with aggravation, conspiracy to murder, robbery with aggravation, murder, and receiving stolen goods, in violation of Section 33(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.

According to the details of the offense, between August 1 and August 29, 2025, in Bo City, Southern Province, the initial five defendants allegedly conspired with others to commit robbery with aggravation and also conspired to commit murder.

The court was further informed that on August 30, 2025, at Buma III Section, Kenema in the Eastern Province, the defendants, armed with a locally manufactured single-barrel gun, robbed Reverend Father Augustine Dauda Amadu of a grey Lenovo laptop valued at $350 and Leones 5,000 in cash. The defendants reportedly subjected the priest to personal violence during the robbery.

Count four alleges that on the same date and location, the defendants murdered Reverend Father Amadu. Additionally, the sixth defendant is charged with receiving stolen property, specifically the stolen Lenovo laptop, on August 29, 2025, at Waterloo in the Western Area, with knowledge that it was stolen.

During the court proceedings, the charges were read and explained to the accused. No plea was entered for the capital offenses, although the sixth defendant pleaded not guilty to receiving stolen property.

Magistrate Jah reviewed the evidence presented by the prosecution and determined it to be sufficient to implicate all six accused individuals in the offenses. Consequently, he committed them to stand trial at the High Court of Sierra Leone for murder, robbery with aggravation, and associated charges.

The accused are currently held in custody pending their trial in the High Court.