The criminal trial for alleged assault involving Pa Jallow, the UDP National Assembly Member for Jarra Central, was on 13th December 2010 set for ruling at the Bundung Magistrates' Court before Principal Magistrate Fredrick Forster.
This followed a no-case-to-answer submission filed by his defence counsel, Badou S.M. Conteh, and the reply filed by the prosecuting officer, Cadet Inspector Kanteh.
Jallow was accused of assaulting one Isatou Marenah, a police officer, by slapping her, while in the due execution of her duties, on 13th October 2010 at Nusrat Junction in the
In response to the defence counsel's no-case submission, the prosecuting officer, Cadet Inspector, drew the court's attention to the definition of assault in criminal law.
Inspector Kanteh went on to define assault as any act which is intentionally or recklessly done, and has the effect of intimidating, and or inflicting unlawful personal violence.
He further submitted that an assault can be committed by an act or by word or a combination of both, adding that it has even been established that a word alone can give rise to a charge of assault.
Cadet Inspector Kanteh further stated that the House of Lords has held that even making a silent telephone call is capable of amounting to an assault
The case was at that juncture adjourned till 22 December 2010 for ruling.
