Two Committed to High Court Over Alleged Threats to Kill Colonel
Two defendants have been committed to the High Court for trial over allegations that they threatened to kill a colonel and used insulting words intended to provoke a breach of the peace.
Sahr Gboria, 57, and Yealie Koroma, 51, face two charges relating to Colonel Mohamed Suffian Kargbo: threatening to kill, contrary to Section 16 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, and insulting conduct, contrary to Section 3(1) of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965.
According to the particulars of the offence, the defendants allegedly threatened to kill Colonel Kargbo on a date between 1 January and 5 February 2026 at Lumley in western Freetown.
The second count alleges that they used abusive and insulting words against him with the intention of provoking a breach of the peace.
No plea was taken when the charges were read and explained, as the matter was before the court for committal proceedings.
Prosecutor Inspector Theresa Ballay led the prosecution witnesses. After the evidence was presented, defence counsel made a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish sufficient grounds for the defendants to answer the charges. The prosecution responded, after which Magistrate Fornah reserved the matter for a ruling.
In considering the submission, the magistrate referred to Lord Parker’s Practice Direction on No Case to Answer and the principles established in R v Galbraith (1981) 2 All ER 1060. These principles require a court to stop a case where there is no evidence on an essential element of the offence or where the evidence is so weak or unreliable that no reasonable tribunal could safely convict. Where some evidence exists but its strength is questioned, the court must consider whether it could properly support a conviction.
Magistrate Fornah said the first count was an indictable offence and explained that the preliminary investigation was intended to determine whether the prosecution had established a prima facie case warranting trial. He emphasised that the prosecution bore the responsibility of presenting sufficient evidence at this stage.
After reviewing the prosecution’s factual and formal evidence, exhibits, defence submission and prosecution response, the magistrate ruled that sufficient evidence had been presented to establish a prima facie case against both defendants.
Gboria and Koroma were subsequently committed
to the High Court for trial. The magistrate ordered that their existing bail conditions remain unchanged.
The committal does not amount to a finding of guilt, as the allegations will be determined during the High Court trial.
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