William West Murder Case Continues

The trial of Kate Atori West who is alleged to have killed one William West, a British national, continued on Wednesday at the Banjul High Court before Justice Joseph Owo.

In his testimony under cross-examination PW1 David Jenkins told the court that apart from being an acquaintance of and accountant to the late William West, he had no other relationship with him. He said he was not in business with the late Mr West and also he did not have letters of administration over the estate of the late William West. As to how many statements he made to the Gambian police, he replied that he made one statement and that was on the 16thJuly 2006, a day before he gave his evidence-in-chief in court.

Further responding to questions, Mr Jenkins told the court that he made a statement to the British police on the 6thJuly 2006 and that the UK police gave him a letter of introduction to the Gambian police. He admitted under cross-examination that the letter was not adressed to any particular institution. He also told the court that apart from the letter of introduction there was the statement of the accused person, but admitting that there was no signature of the accused person on the statement. He admitted that the statement of the accused was not made in his presence. He added that the statement of the accused was typed but that it was not typed by the accused person. Mr Jenkins told the court that he went to the mortuary where he showed the bones, but could not identify whether those were the remains of the late William West. He said he could also remember seeing a bag at the mortuary that contained the bones of the remains of Mr West. He said he knew that some people had been arrested in connection with the alleged crime, but was not aware whether they had been charged and detained by a court order.

At that juncture the case was adjourned to 7thJuly.