Defence counsel E. Gomez Wednesday cross-examined the state’s second
witness, Muhammed Wanja, in the murder case involving Jappineh marabout Alhaji
Karamo Njie, before Justice Amadi of the Special Criminal Court in Banjul.
Under cross-examination, counsel asked the witness if during the course of their investigation he came to know that the deceased, Baboucarr Fadera, was a very violent mental patient.
The witness said he did not know, because he did not know the deceased when he was alive.
He heard that the deceased stoned one Siaka Njie in the face and caused him grievous bodily harm shortly before he died, but he did not witness it.
He did not know that the deceased was previously treated by the accused, adding that he told the court everything he knew about the case.
According to the witness, he did not find out from people the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased.
The report by first class police officer Ceesay at the scene stated that the accused was a mental patient, he said.
He played an active part in the investigation, and he knew that the accused is a marabout known for curing mental illness, the witness told the court.
The trial judge, Justice Amadi, asked him what he did when he heard that the deceased stoned someone in the face and caused him grievous bodily harm, and the witness said he did nothing.
Justice Amadi told the witness that as a police officer, they could not be everywhere but they depend on the information people give them so that they could act on it.
The case continues.
