State
Counsel A.M. Yusuf yesterday told the High Court in Banjul before Justice
Ebrima Jaiteh that the prosecution would call three more witnesses in the
murder case involving Yankuba Touray. He added that they received a call from
the TRRC that they are putting more effort to produce the statement requested
by Defence Counsel Sissoho.
Counsel
Sissoho then told the court that the prosecution could call their next witness
to testify while waiting for the availability of the statement. State Counsel
Yusuf had informed the court that he would do his best to call their witnesses
to make progress.
The
case was subsequently adjourned to the 30th April, 2020, for the 7th
prosecution witness to testify, and the presiding judge ordered for a hearing
notice to be served on the prison officers for Yankuba Touray, who did not
appear during the last sitting.
It could be recalled that Defence Counsel
Abdoulie Sissoho on the 6th April, 2020, told the court that the TRRC has not
complied with the court order when the commission was subpoenaed to produce a
statement made by Alagie Kanyi. He added that the report brought by Mariama
Singhateh from the commission was not the proper one.
Mariama
Singhateh informed the court that the statement she produced before the court
did not mention anything in respect of the death of Koro Ceesay at the TRRC.
She stated that the investigators recorded the statement. She further told the
court that statements are used as a guide by counsels in re-examining
witnesses, noting that they are not taken under oath. She revealed that the
statement was unsigned.
Counsel
Sissoho also told the court that he wanted the statement at the TRRC where
Alagie Kanyi mentioned the death of Koro Ceesay.
A.M.
Yusuf, the state counsel reacted stating that the defence counsel wanted the
statement and Mariama Singhateh had said that the statement was not part of
Alagie Kanyi’s evidence in respect of Koro Ceesay’s death.
Counsel
Sissoho insisted that Mariama Singhateh should check the recorded statement of
Alagie Kanyi, but Mrs. Singhateh informed the court that she needed time to
check the statement. As a result, the
unsigned statement brought by Mrs. Singhateh was returned to her.
The
state counsel suggested that Alagie Kanyi could get into the witness box so
that Counsel Sissoho could cross-examine him to make progress. He said that
Alagie Kanyi could be recalled whenever he is needed by the court for further
cross-examination.
Alagie
Kanyi then got into the witness box to be cross-examined but the defence
counsel said that with the ruling made earlier by the court, he had no further
questions for Alagie Kanyi.
The
state counsel then informed the court that he was not going to re-examine
Alagie Kanyi and applied for the court to discharge him, which was done. He
also applied for an adjournment because of the state of emergency and social
distancing.
The
case was adjourned to the 27th April, 2020, for Mariama Singhateh to report
back to the court whether she has found the statement made by Alagie Kanyi at
the TRRC.
