The
Basse High Court, presided over by Justice Simon A. Abi on 28 July 2017
adjourned the murder trial involving Lamin Fatty, alias Tunkaro Gakou, to
October sitting for judgment.
The
accused, Lamin Fatty, aged 41 years is charged with murder.
The
prosecution alleged that the accused on 22 July 2015, at Sutukonding Village in
Wuli East district, unlawfully murdered one Alhajie Morro Gaku by beating him
with a piece of timber on his head.
The
prosecution called five witnesses to prove its case against the accused and
tendered several exhibits and the accused testified as lone witness in his
defence.
According
to a witness Kebba Kebbeh, the incident happened on 22 July 2015 when the
accused accosted the deceased with insults following inquiry by the deceased as
to who the accused was insulting.
The
witness said the accused hit the deceased with a timber stick three times on
his head before he intervened to separate them.
He
disclosed that the deceased was later taken to Yerro-Bawol Health Centre and
subsequently referred to Brikama Major Health Centre where he was pronounced
dead.
Wuday
Gakou, a shopkeeper said on 21 July 2015 she was given two jerry cans of fuel
for delivery to her father which were subsequently stolen by the accused.
Madi
Trawally, a police officer attached to Basse Police Station stated that he
visited the crime scene together with the accused and he was led to where he
hit the deceased.
The
witness said he recorded the accused cautionary and voluntary statements and
they were tendered in evidence, admitted and marked as exhibits.
Dr
M.I.A. Khalil, a pathologist at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital said
the deceased was brought to the Hospital and was identified to him by his
family members.
He
stated that he conducted an autopsy and prepared a report, which was tendered
in evidence, admitted and marked as exhibit.
The
accused opened his defence and was cross-examined by the prosecution.
The
matter was adjourned to October sitting of the court for judgment whilst the
parties were ordered to file their brief of arguments.
