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Butcher Acquitted, Discharged

Oct 28, 2009, 4:25 PM | Article By: Dawda Faye

The Kanifing Magistrates' Court yesterday acquitted and discharged one Joe Mendy, a butcher, who was arraigned on a charge of selling meat above the stipulated prices.

Mr. Mendy was alleged to have sold meat and bone at D100 per kilo and steak at D200 instead of the stipulated prices of D60 and D80, respectively.

The decision of the court followed a no-case-submission by the Counsel for the accused.

In his ruling, Principal Magistrate Joseph Ikpala told the court that the Defence Counsel submitted that the prosecution witnesses did not disclose the elements of the offence charged.

He further said that the Defence had also challenged that the prosecution did not establish a prima facie case to warrant the accused person to enter his defence.

Magistrate Ikapala maintained that the section under which the accused was charged did not state the price of meat. He held that the prosecution had woefully failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.