Visibly shaken, Jaiteh narrated how he witnessed the incident that claimed his nephew’s life. His emotional testimony set a somber tone in the courtroom, as he began his evidence-in-chief in the ongoing murder trial. As Jaiteh took the witness stand and came face-to-face with the accused, tears began rolling down his cheeks. The presiding judge, Justice Omar Cham, observed his distress and instructed that he be provided with a seat outside the witness box to allow the proceedings to continue.
Even seated, Jaiteh struggled to contain his emotions. He recounted how his nephew, Muhammad Trawally, whom he said he had raised since childhood, was allegedly stabbed to death by Dicko. In a striking revelation, Jaiteh told the court that he had also raised the accused from the age of two or three, making the confrontation all the more painful.
Despite his grief, Jaiteh continued to demonstrate to the court how the incident unfolded, describing the tragic loss of the young man he had brought up as his own. His testimony underscored the gravity of the case and the emotional toll it has taken on both families involved.
In yesterday's court proceedings, the state presented its case against Ousman Dicko, with State Counsel N. F. Njie leading the prosecution team. The key witness, Jaiteh, a retired police officer, testified about the events leading to the fatal stabbing of Muhammad Trawally.
Jaiteh recounted that on April 5, he had asked Ousman Dicko to leave his compound, but Dicko became aggressive and insulted his mother. As Jaiteh was heading to the police station to report the incident, Dicko confronted him, threatening and insulting him. The deceased, Muhammad Trawally, intervened, trying to stop Jaiteh from going to the police station.
According to Jaiteh, Trawally attempted to hit Dicko with a baton but failed, and Dicko retaliated by stabbing Trawally in the chest. Jaiteh identified Dicko in court and described how he had reported the incident to the police.
Under cross-examination, defence counsel Chike questioned Jaiteh's possession of a police baton, which he had kept after retirement. Jaiteh explained he kept it for self-defence. The defence also suggested Jaiteh was not telling the truth, but he maintained his account of events.
The witness became emotional when describing the stabbing, pointing at Dicko in the dock. The case continues, with the court seeking to establish the circumstances surrounding Trawally's death.
