Defence
opened recently in the trial involving Sulayman Touray, Kebba Touray and
Abdoulie Touray, all from Kartong Village in the Kombo South District of the
West Coast Region, before Magistrate Dayoh M. Small Dago of the Brikama
Magistrates’ Court.
The three brothers are standing trial on charges of criminal trespass and wilful damage to property, charges they have denied.
In his defence testimony, the first accused person, Sulayman Touray informed that members of the Touray Kunda familyare the original settlers in Kartong, and that all other families in Kartong were hosted by the Touray Kunda family.
He told the court that Lamin Jammeh, the complainant is not part of the Touray Kunda clan and he (Jammeh’s fathers) had never farmed in the disputed land.
Touray said his family members had never given permission to anyone from the Jammeh family to farm, neither had they sold any land to Jammeh Kunda family.
Asked by his defence counsel about the allegation that they (the accused persons) set fire on the vegetation of the complainant, the witness denied the allegation saying nobody could set fire on green vegetation.
Hearing continues.
