By Ragan M. Conteh

A government pathologist, Alisious Kalawa, has done a medical cross-examination regarding the postmortem evidence he had presented to the court.

He presented the evidence on Monday 3rd May 2024.

In his cross-examination, Dr Kalawa told the magistrate court that the deceased victims were exhumed in the presence of the prosecution team where he performed the postmortem examination.

He was doing that to ascertain the cause of death of both teenage victims namely Kadiatu Bangura, 17-years-old and Salamatu Jalloh 13-years-old from Bubuya and Kabailor villages in Kambia district.

The individuals who are accused to have committed the crimes are: Ballay Turay and three others and are charged for conspiracy and manslaughter offences.

Dr Kalawa mentioned in his statements that during the postmortem he discovered that one of the victims was seen with pants.

He continued by stating that the victim was also mutilated with a show of blood in her genital organ.

In presenting his evidence, the pathologist stated in the court that he was contacted by the police to undertake the postmortem examinations of the victims.

Dr Kalawa later emphasized that the bodies were exhumed in the presence of a Senior Crime Officer.

Also in presence were the grave diggers and medical junior staff.

The pathologist said the cause of death was hemorrhage, adding that they carried out the examination at the gravesite.

In the last hearing on the case on Monday 27th May 2024, the Defence team headed by Lawyer Bayraytay, demanded from Dr Kalawa to present all his certificates which qualify him to serve as a pathologist.

On Monday 3rd June 2024 hearing, Dr Kalawa submitted photocopies of all his certificates.

He also presented his original certificates including his medical licence for exhibits before the court.

And the defence team led by Lawyer Bayraytay accepted the documents and allowed a continuation of the cross-examination.

The Prosecution Counsel led by Police officer Dumbuya with associate lawyer Tenneh Tonia Smart Esq, made their submissions regarding the postmortem and charged the defence team on what lawyer Tenneh described as “deviation” on the examination issue.

The question of misspellings on the part of the medical report submitted was also raised and the State Counsel team also objected a motion stating that the document was not prepared by Dr Kalawa but from the police.

The lawyer, Madam Tenneh Tonia Smart Esq asked the defence team to stick to the medical report and not to go by the police request.

She told Magistrate George Samai that she was satisfied with the submissions and qualifications of Dr Kalawa, the pathologist.

This came about after several hours of testimonies by the defence and the State Counsels.

Meanwhile, magistrate George Samai has adjourned the matter for Monday 10th June 2024 for a testimony by a final medical witness.