High Court Jails Man 25 Years for Burning One-Year-Old Child’s Hands

High Court Jails Man 25 Years for Burning One-Year-Old Child’s Hands
High Court Jails Man 25 Years for Burning One-Year-Old Child’s Hands
High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Andrew S. C. Johnson, has sentenced thirty-nine-year-old Ibrahim Tarawalie to twenty-five (25) years imprisonment after his conviction of the offence of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm perpetuated against a one-year-old baby.
The said act is contrary to section 18 of the Offences against the Person Act, 1861.
The prosecution alleged that the convict, on the 31st July, 2024, at Freetown, unlawfully and maliciously wounded one (1) year one-year-old child, Abu Bakarr Dolleh, with the intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.
Upon his arraignment, the accused pleaded not guilty. To prove their case against the Defendant, the State represented by I. A Kamara led three witnesses including a police officer.
In his testimony, the investigating officer told the court that a one year old child was brought to his duty station with several severe burns on both hands, with the allegation that the convict placed his hands against red-hit charcoal as punishment for allegedly stealing soup.
The medical report revealed that the child suffered from severe burns, permanent scarring and disfigurement. An eye-witness testified that the convict had earlier on threatened to burn the hands of the victim and on that faithful day, he held the hands of the child and firmly pressed them on the red/hit charcoal for several seconds while the child was screaming in pain.