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In treason trial, DPP to call more witnesses

Apr 13, 2010, 1:32 PM | Article By: Soury Camara

The ongoing treason trial involving the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. General Lang Tombong Tamba and seven others, could not proceed yesterday because of an application for a stand-down made by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Richard Chenge.

When the court sitting resumed for the continuation of the case, the DPP was called to put his next witness in the witness box.

However, he rose to make an application, requesting the court to stand-down the case to enable him produce a printout of a document from the internet that will be tendered by the witness.

DPP Chenge further suggested that the case be stood-down to 2 pm, which the defence counsel did not oppose.

Justice Amadi in his ruling stated that "I will not stand-down the matter to 2 pm, but rather to 12:30 pm."

After the ruling, the accused persons were whisked away from the courtroom, and later returned at the stipulated time.

However, following consultation between the defence team and the presiding judge, the hearing was re-scheduled for today Tuesday 13th April 2010, for the DPP to call other witnesses.

It would be recalled that ten witnesses have so far testified in the trial, including Ebrima Marreh, Rui Jabbi Gassama, Lt. Colonel Yerro Jallow and CDS Lt. General Masanneh Kinteh.