The witness Ebrima Janneh, who also stated that he was a cameraman and his workplace was around the Serekunda police station, adding that he was invited by a police officer from the Serekunda police station who told him they needed a witness statement.
He said that upon arrival at the station, a CID officer, whose name he later found out is Mr Bah, told him that they wanted to take someone’s statement in his presence and they wanted him to serve as an independent witness.
The witness said Arona Tine was brought in and sat on the left side from where he was sitting. “I asked him in Wolof if he was okay and he said yes. He was seated freely, not being forced in my presence nor threatened to say anything while his statement was being taken,” the witness explained.
He added that after the statement was recorded, the officers removed a shirt from a plastic bag and showed it to the accused and asked if he recognized it. He said the accused admitted that he recognised the said shirt.
When the officers further asked him whether he knew the owner of the shirt that died and the accused, the witness said in Wolof: ‘Oh my mother I have killed someone’s child’.
“When he said that, he shouted and said ‘my life is ruined and my kids are too young’,” the witness stated, adding that the accused further said his child was just 10 years old.
State counsel F. Drammeh reminded the witness that he had taken an oath and if he falsified evidence before the court, he would be arrested and taken to Mile II. But the witness said he would not say anything that was not true after taking an oath.
The case was adjourned till 25 November.
