By SKSÂ
A 20-year-old motorbike rider has been remanded in custody after being charged with manslaughter following a fatal accident that claimed the life of Mohamed Bah in Freetown.
The accused, Emmanuel Tommy, appeared before Magistrate Augustine Brima Samura at Pademba Road Court No. 8 in Freetown to face charges of manslaughter.
The accused was charged with unlawfully causing the death of Mohamed Bah on May 30, 2025.
According to court proceedings, the incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. along Hennessey Street, New England Ville, in the Western Area of Freetown. The charge alleges that Tommy was riding his TVS Star HLX motorbike, registration number AUV 346, when he ran over and killed Mohamed Bah.
During the hearing, the court read and explained the charges to Tommy, but he did not enter a plea. Magistrate Samura ordered that the accused remain in custody, refusing bail and remanding him to the male correctional facility in Freetown.
The case has been adjourned to August 8, 2025.
Prosecution witness Fatmata Bah, a businesswoman and the wife of the deceased, testified about the tragic event. She explained that on the evening of May 30, her husband returned from work and passed by her shop. Shortly after, a young man named Amadu informed her that her husband had been involved in a motorbike accident. Fatmata Bah recounted that she called her husband’s mobile phone, which was answered by a woman who said she found the phone at the accident scene. She then went to meet the woman, who confirmed that the accused, Emmanuel Tommy, had admitted to running over her husband. Tommy reportedly told her that he had taken Mohamed Bah to Starterlite Hospital on Kingham Road.
At the hospital, the witness found her husband lying on a bench with a broken leg. He was later transferred to Connaught Hospital, where he went into a coma.
After two days of treatment, Mohamed Bah regained consciousness but complained of neck pain. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and was eventually taken to Connaught Mortuary before being buried at Circular Road Cemetery.
Fatmata Bah’s statement was later recorded by police at the New England Ville police station. She concluded her testimony by expressing her grief over the loss of her husband. It was noted that the accused was not legally represented during the proceedings and did not cross-examine the witness.
This case highlights the ongoing concerns over road safety and the tragic consequences of motorbike accidents in the city. The court’s next hearing is scheduled for August 8, when further proceedings are expected.
