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After escaping wife’s “attempt to kill”, husband says doesn’t love her wife

Jul 6, 2017, 12:03 PM | Article By: Bruce Asemota

Alhajie Secka, whose wife allegedly wanted to kill him, yesterday told the court that he used to love his wife but he doesn’t love her anymore.

Mr Secka is in court with his wife, Astou Jeng, after she allegedly attempted to kill him by pouring petrol on him and setting him ablaze, thereby causing him serious bodily harm.  The incident happened on 16 March 2017 in Brikama Sanchaba.

Giving his evidence during cross-examination before principal magistrate Omar Cham of Brikama Magistrates’ Court, Secka told the court that he was discharged from Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul where he was admitted for almost two months.

Mr Secka told the court that he was issued with a medical report on 28 June 2017 by one Dr Charles Robert, a consultant general surgeon and head of the Department of Surgery at the EFSTH.

The prosecution led by Sgt 2294 Jammeh then took out a document and asked Secka if he could identify the document.

He identified the document and told the court that the document was the medical report issued by Dr Charles Robert.

The prosecuting police officer, who had earlier applied to tender the medical report in evidence later, withdrew his application.

Responding to questions during cross-examination by defence counsel Pa Harry Jammeh, Secka told the court that he has two wives and the accused person is his first wife.

He further told the court that he loves his wives equally.

When asked whether he still loves his first wife (the accused), Alhajie Secka replied that he used to love the accused but he doesn’t love her anymore.

When asked to describe his relationship with the accused prior to the alleged incident, the witness said the accused was very difficult.

He explained that the accused had been very violent and they always engaged in a fight.

Secka, however, denied the defence counsel claim that he is a wife beater.

At this juncture, the matter was adjourned until 20 July 2017, for continuation of cross-examination.