The allegations stemmed from an attack on 16 November 2023 at Brikama Jalambang in the Kombo Central District, where he is accused of hacking his wife, Amie Sowe, with a cutlass, leaving her with serious injuries to her legs, arms, and other parts of her body.
During cross-examination by State Counsel F. Drammeh, Sowe, who was standing as Defence Witness One, said he was sick and remained in bed on the day of the incident. He denied leaving his home except to use the toilet and said he only went to Amie Sowe’s house after he was informed about the incident.
He claimed that when he arrived, Amie Sowe was conscious and allegedly told the police that he had attacked her.
Sowe confirmed that police searched his home and recovered a cutlass from under his bed, but he insisted that the green haftan was never taken from his house.
He told the court that he was wearing it when he went to call for help and that it was removed from him at the police station, where he was given another shirt to wear.
Defence counsel objected when the prosecution claimed that Amie Sowe had testified he was wearing the haftan during the attack, but Justice Jaiteh overruled the objection.
On the night of the incident, the accused said he only went to the toilet due to diarrhoea, while his second wife, Dado, brought him water. The prosecution suggested he used this as a pretext to attack Amie Sowe, a claim he denied, stating he was too sick to leave the house.
Sowe also admitted his long standing disputes with Amie, including disagreements over land and livestock.
He admitted selling her cow without her consent but denied that the disputes motivated him to commit the attack.
He confirmed that their 25-year marriage was marked by frequent disagreements that sometimes required family intervention, eventually leading them to live separately.
The prosecution tendered several exhibits, including the cutlass, the green haftan, and a wrapper. While the accused accepted that the cutlass was recovered from his home, he maintained that the green haftan was seized from him at the police station.
Sowe was also confronted with testimony from his son, who allegedly said that his father attacked Amie Sowe with a cutlass. In response, he said his son could not describe the colour of the clothes he was wearing at the time.
State Counsel Drammeh put it to Sowe that his son had lived with him long enough to recognize him at any time, implying that the son could accurately identify him.
During re-examination, defence counsel tried to clarify how blood allegedly got on his clothing, but the prosecution objected, and Justice Jaiteh ruled the question leading.
The case was adjourned until Monday, 23 February 2026.
