High Court Criminal Calendar of Sierra Leone has officially opened, with over 52 criminal cases before the court.

This session marks the commencement of a new criminal calendar, with a total of 57 cases and 67 accused persons facing trial for various offences.

The High Court’s ‘Call Over’ serves as an initial hearing where the Presiding Judge takes pleas from all accused individuals who have been committed for trial by Magistrate Courts or whose indictments have been filed with a judge’s written consent.

During this session, if an accused pleads guilty to any charge, the judge may proceed with sentencing. For those pleading not guilty, the judge will adjourn the trial to a later date when it will be assigned to a different judge for a full hearing.

Among the 67 individuals on trial, they face charges ranging from conspiracy, murder, and robbery with aggravation to larceny, house and office breaking, fraudulent conversion, wounding with intent, and unlawful possession of drugs.

In addition, four accused persons are facing charges for unlawful possession of drugs, three for fraudulent conversion, and two for murder.

The High Court’s Criminal Session occurs four times each year.