The trial involving Babylon alkalo Lamin Jarju and 13 others Thursday proceeded at the Brikama Magistratesโ Court before Magistrate Dago Small.
The case proceeded with the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Valentine Ndeki, by defence counsel Borry Touray.
Under cross-examination, counsel asked the witness to tell the court when the alleged incident happened, and the witness said it happened in 2013, but could not remember the month.
โWhen Francis was going to the station, did he go with you?โ Counsel asked.
โI went with Francis to the station,โ answered the witness.
โDid you report the matter to the police on the day the trees were cut?โ counsel enquired.
โYes,โ the witness answered.
โWhen you went to the police station, what happened?โ counsel asked.
โFrancis made a statement and he later went to the bush alone,โPW1 said.
โYou talked about the burning of charcoal, was it done on the same day?โ Counsel enquired.
โNo,โ PW1 replied.
โThis cutting of trees was done on whose land?โ asked counsel.
โIt was done on Francisโ land,โ the witness stated.
โIs it correct that you are not the complainant?โ counsel asked.
โI complained because they destroyed my land too,โ stated PW1.
โSo you are saying trees were also destroyed from your land,โ counsel put it to him.
โYes,โ replied PW1.
โHow many trees were cut in your land?โ asked counsel.
โ113 trees,โ said the witness.
โThe statement you made at the station, if I read it to you, will you identify it?โ enquired counsel.
โYes,โ the witness replied.
The wordings were read to him and he admitted it was his statement.
The defence counsel then applied to tender it, and it was admitted and marked as exhibit without any objection from the prosecutor.
โDo you own the same farmland along with Francis?โ asked counsel.
โThere is a road of less than a metre but the farms are separated,โ the witness said.
The case continues on 30 January 2014.
