The murder trial of Abdul Kpaka took a new turn on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Freetown High Court before Justice Alfred Ganda, as the defense presented email messages alleging the deceased had long-standing health issues. The defense continued leading its first witness, Abdul Kpaka, the defendant, in the ongoing proceedings. Justice Ganda directed Kpaka to proceed with his testimony in chief due to the High Court ICT expert's absence.
During testimony, the defense attempted to tender Kpaka’s mobile phone into evidence. State Counsel Yusuif Isaac Sesay objected to this, arguing that only the court's ICT expert was the appropriate person to handle such evidence. Justice Ganda upheld the prosecution’s objection and instructed the defense to reserve the phone for the ICT expert’s testimony. The defense claimed the email messages revealed the deceased’s longstanding heart and breathing complications.
Email Evidence Details
Abdul Kpaka, guided by his lawyer, read aloud select portions from a 45-page booklet that had previously been accepted as evidence in the trial. The defense contended that these messages demonstrated the deceased had been experiencing heart-related and other health complications over several years.
A message from July 12, 2019, found on page 5 of the booklet, conveyed the deceased's distress, stating, "I can’t sleep, I can’t breath properly Kpaka." Another message, dated November 5, 2020, on page 23, indicated physical weakness: "I took the medicine they gave me, my head keeps spinning, and I am weak." On the same date, November 5, 2020, a message on page 22 revealed a hospital visit and high blood pressure: "I have been really sick, my BP was super high, I spent the entire day at the hospital yesterday, please Kpaka forgive me, I am loosing my mind, I just want to talk oh."
Further evidence of health issues appeared in a message from March 28, 2020, on page 14, where the deceased wrote, "I threw up everything, this drug is killing me, my body is weak, sorry for me mum, don’t wanna get her involved and stress her, knowing my health problem. Na people country r dae, I don’t want to be dead here. My eyes hurt, been crying since Kpaka. M sorry." An urgent plea for medical attention was present in an October 6, 2019, message on page 10, stating, "I need to go to the hospital, I don’t have money and can’t walk either. Pls save me."
Other messages read by Kpaka indicated emotional pleas and a desire for reconciliation. A message from July 16, 2019, on page 7, expressed regret and a wish for forgiveness: "my mother is so disappointed at me, and is deeply sorry for everything, all I ask is this one chance. I want to make it up to my mum and you. Pls find it in your heart to forgive me Bae. I am sorry, unblock me." On February 17, 2022, a message on page 36 detailed a desire for a future together, reading, "you inspire me, I do admire you a lot, I want life with you Bbe, I want children with you, I want a happy family with you. I want to wake up close to you every day. I want to keep telling you how sweet you smell. I am begging you like my life depends on it. Pls forgive me for this last mistake. Please, Bb."
A message from November 20, 2020, on page 20, showed persistent attempts to communicate despite being blocked, stating, "Even though I know I am blocked but I have kept on checking Kpaka. I will still continue checking. The Kpaka I know hate seeing me sad, and I hate seeing him sad too. Yes, I have my option, but I have never been this long mad at you. It breaks my heart to know you stay this mad at me. I am out of words, I swear." Another message from February 17, 2022, on page 35, showed profound emotional dependency, saying, "you are the best, and loosing you will be me loosing my whole life. I love you so much that I want to spend every last breath of my time with you. I know I messed up severally, but I am only human, so please find it in your heart to forgive me, I need this final chance, ABD, you wont regret it. I promise to hold on to it as if my life depends on it. Life is way too complicated without you. My life is worthless without you ABD, I love you papa, bear and sorry for bringing the trust issues but I didn’t do or date him. I don’t need another man, I have a perfect man. My joy, sadness, and happiness. The only man that I am 💯 comfortable with. You are my whole life Abd, and I am truly sorry. Kindly take me back this final chance. Do for God our creator."
The most recent message presented, dated March 31, 2024, on page 43, acknowledged repetitive apologies and a commitment to improvement: "I know me saying sorry all the time don make you ganze, cous I can’t be saying sorry n not working on my action. But be rest assured that I hate seeing me like this, useless, n that hurting you will not be intentional. My attitude stinks, that I knw n not proud of. But Abd U knw that it will take time or years to make me a better version, and I am trying to be better. Don’t give up on us now. Pls Papa."
Relationship Dynamics Revealed
The messages presented in court portrayed a relationship marked by repeated disagreements between Abdul Kpaka and the deceased. According to the messages read during the trial, the deceased frequently appealed to Kpaka for forgiveness after being blocked on WhatsApp and other communication platforms.
The messages showed the deceased expressing deep affection and confidence in the defendant. In one message, she described Kpaka as her "perfect man." She pleaded to be forgiven and unblocked, at times involving her mother and father in efforts to reconcile with Kpaka. Throughout the presented exchanges, Kpaka rarely responded to the messages from the deceased.
Courtroom Proceedings and Next Steps
State Counsel Yusuif Isaac Sesay raised concerns regarding the exhibit booklet, pointing out differences in font sizes and the formatting of dates on certain pages. The prosecutor noted instances where dates appeared in both bold and regular typefaces within the document.
In response to these concerns, Justice Alfred Ganda stated that the court’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) experts would address the issues related to the exhibit's formatting and presentation when they appear to testify.
Approximately 40 pages of the 45-page exhibit booklet, containing the email messages, had been read into the record before the court adjourned. The trial is scheduled to resume on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, when proceedings are expected to continue.
