Dodou Janneh, the accused in the murder of Sheriff Minteh last year, maintained that he did not stab the victim as alleged. The accused made this statement last Tuesday at the Bundung Magistrates' Court while giving evidence under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Lamin Camara.
He told the court that he was a volunteer police C.I.D. officer attached to Serrekunda Police Station. He said his vivid recollection of that fateful day when Sheriff Minteh died is that he was on duty at the police station when there was an assignment to go and raid an area in London Corner, Serrekunda.
He adduced that he was part of the seven-man team that was sent to raid the area and was present when the late Sheriff Minteh was arrested.
He said that in the first instance a group of twelve were arrested, handcuffed and then loaded in a vehicle.
And on their way to the police station to deposit them, they saw another group smoking cannabis. "We then stopped, chased them and saw Kalilu Sanneh, a police officer running after the late Sheriff Minteh," he said.
He adduced that from a distance he saw the late Sheriff Minteh stumble and fell see by a big tree with protruding roots. "I then saw Kalilu Sanneh holding him while he fell down on the metal."
He said that was the time he went to where they were, and Kalilu requested handcuffs from him, adding that at that time Sheriff Minteh had sustained injuries and could not walk anymore, noting that he was taken to the police station.
Soon after, he went on, a crowd gathered and started shouting and hurling insults. "I was hit with a stick on my shoulder by one rasta boy and I ran to try and escape," he said. The accused further added that he ran into a compound and hid there. He said that he stayed in hiding until the crowd dispersed between 9pm and 10pm and then went to Serekunda police station for his own safety. He revealed that from there he went to Bakau police station where he felt safer.
He added that he was picked up from Bakau on 11th May 2007, and taken back to Serekunda station to be cautioned. He further stated that while visiting the scene with officers they came across some metal gathered in one place, adducing that when they returned to the station, Sgt. Cham brought a statement to him but he did not understand what it was all about.
The case was adjourned to 2nd June 2008.
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