Testimony heard in manslaughter case

The Special Criminal Court yesterday heard testimony in a manslaughter case involving Alhagie Lamin Barrow and Amie Sey.

Testifying, the first prosecution witness (PW1), Ousman Cole, told the court that he knew both the accused persons, and could remember what happened on 29 September 2012.

He said on the day in question between 3 and 4 am, his wife received a call from the 1st accused person that he wanted his assistance.

“When I was informed by my wife, I went to the house of the accused persons. The 2nd accused opened the gate for me, while the 1st accused was in the bathroom holding the hands of the deceased,” the witness told the court.

“The 1st accused told me to hold the hands of the deceased for him and he went out of the bathroom, and came back in three minutes, but the deceased was alive. I held the hands of the deceased, but his head was down,” he said.

He added that the deceased was half way between the two windows, but the legs were outside of the bathroom, and the head inside the toilet.

Still testifying, PW1 said he told Barrow that they should try and bring down the accused, but the 1st accused said he want the police to find him in that position.

“The 1st accused was annoyed, and he slapped the deceased, and the deceased made some noise and relaxed,” he explained, adding that when he went to the toilet he noticed that the water tank was broken into pieces.

 “I later went outside and left the deceased and the 1st accused in the compound, while the 2nd accused was talking to the crowd. When I returned from my house, I noticed that the deceased was lying on the ground outside alive, while the 1st accused was giving instructions for the deceased to be taken to the police station,” he said.

The case continues.