Justice Momo-Jah Steven, presiding judge in the ongoing treason trial between the State, Rtd. Major Alfred Palo Conteh and two others has in a six-page ruling dismissed the no case submission presented by the defence.
On Tuesday 16 June 2020, Justice Steven informed the defence team that he had previously ruled on most of the points that they canvassed during their no case submission, which includes but not limited to the duplicity of charges, defective fiat and the prosecution not presenting an overt act to the defence.
He furthered that the prosecution had earlier said they rely on their case and it is the mandate of the defence to overturn that.
He also mentioned that Treason is a serious offense and the other side (defence) must be heard for the jurors to make their verdict in the matter. Justice Steven asked that the defence open their case as procedure demands after the prosecution had closed their case.
Lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, counsel representing the first accused said their client will be testifying as witness and they will be calling additional witnesses to testify but requested that the defence be given adequate time to familiarize themselves with the ruling.
He said the defence might open and close their case on the same day but they would want to engage their client to prepare him before he takes the witness stand.
Lawyer Roland Wright, counsel representing the second accused said they would not be calling any witnesses or put their client on the witness box to testify but rely on the statement made by their client and the verdict that would be delivered by the jurors.
Counsel for the third accused, Lawyer Amadu Koroma who earlier told the court that they would not be making a no case submission would also be putting his client on the witness stand to testify.
Justice Steven granted the defence lawyers the time that was requested and adjourned the matter to Friday 19th June 2020 for next hearing.
