Court martial appeal case set for adoption of briefs

The appeal case involving five convicts, sentenced by the court martial on 30 March 2015 at the Fajara Barracks, was yesterday set for adoption of briefs by the Gambia Court of Appeal presided over by Justice O. Adegoke, Justice Awa Bah and Justice Edrissa Mb’ai.

The appellants are Lt Col Sarjo Jarju, Captain Abdoulie Jobe, Captain Buba K.Bojang, Lt Amadou Sowe, Lt Buba Sanneh and Private Modou Njie.

It would be recalled that the appellants were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and death for treason and allied offences.

The 1st, 5thand the 6th appellants were sentenced to death, whilst the 2nd, 3rd and 4the appellants were sentenced to life imprisonment.

When the matter came up yesterday, lawyer L.S.Camara informed the court that he had filed additional grounds of appeal in respect of the 4th appellant on 16November 2016 and had served the DPP.

Lawyer Borry S. Touray, counsel for the 1stappellant also informed the court he also filed additional grounds of appeal in respect of his client.

Both counsel made applications for the additional grounds of appeal for the two appellants to be properly filed.

DPP S.H.Barkum told the court that the state has been served with the notice of appeal, and the additional grounds of appeal.

Lawyer B.S.Touray told the court that he needed 28 days to file his client’s brief of argument, noting that he did not participate in the court martial.

Lawyer L.S.Camara and Lawyer S. Kenendy, counsel for the 2nd, 3rd and 5th appellants equally asked for 28 days to file their brief of arguments.

In her ruling, Justice O.Adegoke said the court was mindful of the need to expedite the case, and admonished lawyer B.S.Touray not to wait until the day of the court sitting to file his processes.

She declared that the additional grounds of appeal filed by the 1st and 4th appellants were deemed to be properly filed.

The court, therefore, gave the appellants 28 days to file their briefs of arguments on 15 December 2016, and the DPP was given 14 days and ordered to file the respondent brief of argument on 2 January 2017.

The matter was adjourned until 16 January 2017, for adoption of briefs.