The airwaves of VOPAD radio, once filled with news and stories, are now echoing with allegations of murder.
In a stunning development, Joseph Mendel Lamin (alias “Manager Dust”), 37, a station manager at the Voice of Peace and Development Radio Station (VOPAD) in Kissi Town, Waterloo, along with two accomplices – Morlia Kamara, 29, a bike rider, and Umaru Timbo, 35, a driver – have been remanded in prison.
They stand accused of the murder of renowned journalist, Samuel Brima Mattia, who was found dead at the station on January 15, 2025.
The accused appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No.1, facing two counts: conspiracy to murder (Section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861) and murder (Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as amended by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021).
According to the indictment, the three men allegedly conspired with others to commit murder at VOPAD Radio Station.
The specifics allege that they acted together to kill Samuel Brima Mattia on January 15th.
The accused did not enter a plea when the charges were read.
Magistrate Kekura denied bail and remand all three accused persons at the Male Correctional Facility on Pademba Road in Freetown.
Inspector Kadie M Taylor, the prosecuting officer, requested a brief adjournment to confer with witnesses.
The court granted the request, scheduling the next hearing for February 19, 2025.
The death of Samuel Brima Mattia, a journalist known for sport reporting has sent shockwaves through the media community
