By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, July 7, 2026: Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens of the High Court in Freetown has sentenced five men to 80 years’ imprisonment each for the brutal murder of Reverend Father Augustine Dauda Amadu. A sixth accused was handed a 14-year jail term for receiving stolen property linked to the crime.
The convicted men are Martin Sallu, Gbessay Sawray, Foday Sallu, John Bangali, Joseph Gikamaji Kamara, and Foday Alhassan Sesay. They faced charges of conspiracy to commit robbery with aggravation, robbery with aggravation, conspiracy to murder, murder, and receiving stolen goods, contrary to Section 33(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the indictment, between August 1 and 29, 2025, the accused conspired to commit robbery in the Southern Province. Prosecutors alleged that five of the men, armed with a firearm, robbed Reverend Father Amadu of a Lenovo laptop valued at US$350 and Le5,000 in cash before murdering him. Sesay was later charged with knowingly receiving the stolen laptop in Freetown.
Justice Stevens noted that although all six pleaded not guilty, the prosecution presented compelling evidence, including confessional statements. Gbessay Sawray and Joseph Kamara admitted to participating in the killing at the parish church in Kenema, while John Bangali confessed to joining the operation after leaving home under the pretext of hunting.
Medical evidence revealed that Reverend Father Amadu suffered a broken neck and fractured right hand, with his body discovered in a pool of blood inside a toilet. The judge described the killing as “brutal,” stressing that the accused gained nothing from taking the life of a man of God.
The court also heard that Gbessay Sawray had previously escaped from prison while serving a life sentence for another offence before becoming involved in the present crime.
During allocutus, most of the convicts pleaded for mercy, while Sawray denied responsibility. Defence counsel Karim Kargbo of the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board urged the court to temper justice with mercy, citing forgiveness as a fundamental principle.
State Counsel Patrick Lumumba Williams reminded the court that the minimum sentence for the offences was 14 years.
After weighing submissions, Justice Stevens sentenced the five principal offenders — Martin Sallu, Gbessay Sawray, Foday Sallu, John Bangali, and Joseph Kamara — to 80 years each, with sentences to run consecutively. Foday Alhassan Sesay received 14 years for receiving stolen goods.
Justice Stevens concluded that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, underscoring the severity of the crime and the need for deterrence.