Fatmata Kamara, a mother of three children, has received a 24-year prison sentence from Justice Adrian Fisher. This penalty stems from her actions involving her newborn baby, whom she discarded in a pit toilet.
Kamara had been in police custody since 2020 and initially faced a murder charge. However, the State, represented by Lawyer Solomon Christian Kekura, requested an amendment to reduce the charge from murder to manslaughter, to which she pleaded guilty.
The circumstances of the case reveal that Kamara became pregnant in 2019 by a married man. Throughout her pregnancy, she attempted multiple times to terminate it but was unsuccessful. On the night she gave birth to the baby while relieving herself, she decided to dispose of the child in the pit toilet. Fortunately, a neighbour found the child and rushed him to the hospital, where he tragically passed away after 21 days.
In her statements to the police, Kamara explained that she didn't want to carry the pregnancy, given the situation of being pregnant by a married man.
During her plea for mitigation, she expressed that her actions were driven by the shame of bearing a married man's child and the fear of adding another burden to herself, as the father of her three children was irresponsible, and she was solely responsible for their care.
In his verdict, Justice Fisher stressed the seriousness of the case and the necessity for a stern response. He advised Kamara that there were alternative options available to her, such as giving the child to someone else, rather than resorting to such a tragic act.
Ultimately, Fatmata Kamara was sentenced to 24 years in prison, reflecting the gravity of the offense and the tragic loss of life.