Bayanka six murder case continues

The alleged murder trial involving six youths from Bayanka Village in the Western Region continued on Wednesday before Justice Moses Richards of the Banjul based Special Criminal Court of the High Court.

The accused persons, Ansumana Camara, Haruna Camara, Yuspha Sanneh, Suwaibu Colley, Abodou Camara, and Sanna Camara are alleged to have unlawfully caused the death of one Ansu Bojang on 18th September 2002, at Bayanka Village in Western Region.

In his evidence in-chief, the fourth prosecution witness, Jamanty Kebbeh informed the court that he obtained both the voluntary and cautionary statements of the 6th accused person, Sanna Camara at the offices of the Major Crime Unit in Banjul in the presence of an independent witness, one Ebrima Jallow.

"I explained the charged preferred against him and later read the cautionary wording to him in English and later translate it into Mandika," he told the court.

He adduced further that the accused person denied the charge after it was read to him in the language he claim to have understood.

Still testifying, Mr. Kebbeh told the court that the accused thumbprint the statements while the independent witness sign.

The principal state counsel, SH Barkun applied to tender the said cautionary and voluntary statements as exhibits and was admitted by the court without any objection from the defence counsel, Lamin S. Camara.

Under cross-examination by the defence L.S. Camara, the witness admitted that he was not part of the investigating team that went to Bayanka and that he did not know anything about the case.

The case was adjourned to 15th April 2010 for continuation.