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Infanticide case transferred to special criminal court

Oct 3, 2011, 1:13 PM | Article By: Yusuf Ceesay

The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Magistrate Jallow, last Friday ordered a transfer of an infanticide case involving one Maimuna Badjie to the Special Criminal Court in Banjul.

The accused person, who admitted the offence levelled against her, begged the court for forgiveness, saying she would never get involved again in such an act.

However, when the case resumed, the trial magistrate reminded the court of the accused’s plea of guilt to the charge, adding that the court had convicted her upon her own plea.

He however stated that the offence against the accused was capital offence and the court could not sentence the accused without a legal representation.

He cited authorities where the accused person was charged, for which capital offences, he said, needed representation of a legal counsel.

He consequently ordered the case to be transferred to the Special Criminal Court in Banjul.

In the meantime, he also ordered the accused person to be remanded in custody.

The charge levelled against the accused person was that on 27 August 2011, at Talinding, in the Kanifing Municipality, the accused delivered a newly-born baby and dumped it in a toilet.