Witness Testifies in Alleged Murder Case of First Lady’s Adopted Son

A key prosecution witness has testified in the ongoing preliminary investigation into the alleged murder of the adopted son of Sierra Leone’s First Lady, as the matter progresses before the courts in Freetown.

Sam Momoh, popularly known as “Mende Boy,” a 28-year-old unemployed man, is before the court in connection with the alleged killing of Joshua Mansaray.

The accused was arraigned before Magistrate Mustapha Briana Jah, at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, where he faces two charges: conspiracy to commit a felony and murder, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861, as amended.

Court documents state that on 24 January 2026, at Lodge Junction, Kingharman Road in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused allegedly conspired with others to commit murder and is further alleged to have killed Joshua Mansaray on the same date and location.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, the prosecution, led by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Tommy B. Zizer, called its second witness, Detective Police Constable 8826 Sulaison Mukeh Konneh of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters at Pademba Road.

The witness told the court that he received the case file on 26 January 2026 and conducted an interview with the accused alongside Detective Alhaji Chernor Kamara, during which a caution statement was obtained and tendered in evidence as part of the court records.

He further testified that a postmortem examination was requested from the Chief Medical Officer, while efforts were also made to retrieve CCTV footage relevant to the investigation. An autopsy was later conducted at Connaught Hospital on 4 February 2026, with the cause of death certificate tendered in court.

Detective Konneh also informed the court that additional witness statements were taken on 9 February 2026, and that the case file was later forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice. The DPP subsequently recommended that the accused be charged with conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

He added that all procedural steps, including interviews and documentary evidence, were completed before the accused was formally charged.

At the conclusion of the testimony, the prosecution closed its case. Magistrate Jah, after reviewing the evidence presented, ruled that it was sufficient to commit the accused to stand trial at the High Court sitting on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.

Momoh has since been remanded in custody pending trial at the High Court.