36yr old Joseph Stanley, 30yr Sukainatu Stanley, 30 Zainab Starnley, 27 and Abdulai Stanley, 19, made another appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah of Pademba Road Magistrate Court No.1 in Freetown.

The accused persons are standing trial before the principal magistrate, for wounding contrary to section 20 of the Offences Against the Persons Act of 1861.

Referencing the particulars of offence, the accused persons, on 27th April, 2025, at No. 59 Regent Road, Lumley in Freetown, maliciously wounded Denis Christian Pratt.

To prosecutor Inspector M.K Taylor, led in prosecution witness number one Denis Christian Pratt, a staff at Africell to testify in court, recognized the accused persons at the dock. He did recall on 27th April 2025 what happened between the accused persons and him.

On the said date, the witness said he was on his way to visit his friend; Mr. Amara and used the compound of the accused persons as a road to get to his friend.

He said when he was passing through the compound of the accused, the first accused person, Joseph Stanley, interrogated him by using obscene words on him, asserting that the witness passed through their compound without greeting them.

The witness said that he told the accused persons that he greeted them, but they did not hear him.

Insulted by the first accused person, the witness said he then told the first accused person that it was not sufficient for him to insult him.

Unfortunately for him, he said that the fourth accused person, Abdulai Stanley, hit him with stone on his head for which he felt pain.

Additionally, the witness said that he then run to his friend’s compound for protection.

Consequently, the witness said that the accused persons kicked the gate and entered into the compound and beat him mercilessly for which the first and fourth accused persons left a scar on his body.

At this juncture, the police prosecutor requested for an adjourned date in order to make progress with the prosecution.

The defense counsel, A. Kamanda Esq. applied for bail for and on behalf of all accused persons.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Jah, granted twenty thousand Leones (Le20,000.00) bail each to be approved by the deputy registrar.

The matter was adjourned to the 2nd July 2025.