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CID commander testifies in murder case

Mar 26, 2010, 10:38 AM | Article By: Sainey M.K. Marenah

ASP Pateh Bah the CID commanding officer at Kanifing Division was the first prosecution witness to testify in the murder trial involving Terrick Bright and his adopted mother, Lady Chris Nobi.

Terrick Bright and Lady Chris Nobi were charged with the murder of one Amie Bah.

Testifying before Justice Moses Richards at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul, ASP Bah told the court that on 6th September 2009, at around 21:00 GMT, he received a telephone call from the station officer at Serrekunda Police Station. He informed Bah that the body of a lady was found lying in the street at Latrikunda German with her mouth and nose glued with a cellotape, and that she was suspected to be dead.

ASP Bah said he arrived at the scene and found a crowd, among them the police commissioner at Kanifing Division, one Kebbeh, former IGP Ensa Badjie, the officer commanding the Major Crime Unit, Malamin Ceesay, among others.

He told the court that a nylon bag containing a National Identity Card, a D50 note lying beside the body of the deceased, a lip shine, and head-tie were all found at the scene.

He further testified that the body of the woman was later identified as Amie Bah.

The police detective officer added that an investigation was launched into the matter during which an information was received that the boyfriend of the deceased, Terrick Bright, was living somewhere around where the body of the deceased was found.

He told the court that at around 2 pm, he with the then IGP Badjie, and ASP Malamin Ceesay went to the house of Terrick Bright.

He said when Terrick Bright was asked about the deceased, he told them that he has not seen her for a month.

According to Bah, they discovered that some pieces of cellotape attached to a postcard looked exactly the same as the one found on the deceased person's mouth and nose.

He further told the court that a black Nokia mobile phone was also found in the house of the first accused person, prompting the investigating team to suspect that the first accused might have known something about Amie's death.

He said when questioned with regards to the phone, he told them that it was the phone that Amie was using prior to her death.

Subsequently, he said "the first accused was arrested and taken to Kairaba Police Station."

The court was also told that in the house of first accused person, the secondaccused identified some clothes, purportedly used by the first accused to tie the deceased, and dump her in the street.

A black shoe, ID Card, lady's bag, lip shine, head tie, the clothes purportedly used by the accused to tie the deceased, a damaged Sim card and silver bangle were all tendered by state counsel SH Bakum, and marked as exhibits without any objection from the defence counsel, Ozoma.

The particulars of the offence on count one stated that the first accused, Terrick Bright, on 16th December 2009, at Latrikunda German unlawfully caused the death of one Amie Bah by hitting her on the neck and sealing her mouth and nose with cellotape, knowing that death would be the probable consequence.

Count two stated that Mrs. Lady Chris Nobi on 16th December at Latrikunda German assisted Terrick Bright to dispose of the corpse of Amie Bah.
The case continues.