Section 16: Protection of right to life.

(1) No person shall be deprived of his life intentionally except in execution of the sentence of a court in respect ofa criminal offence under the laws of Sierra Leone, of which he has been convicted. (2) Without prejudice to any liability for a contravention of any other law with respect to the use of force in such cases as are hereinafter mentioned, a person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of his life in contravention of this section if he dies as a result of the use of force to such extent as is reasonably justifiable in the circumstances of the case, that is to say— a. for the defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property; or b. in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained; or c. for the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny; or d. in order to prevent the commission by that person of a criminal offence; or e. if he dies as a result of a lawful act of war. arbitrary arrest or detention.