The presiding Judge, Justice E. Jaiteh of the Banjul High Court, yesterday informed the accused that he was charged with a single count of murder contrary to section 187 of the Criminal Code.
He said: “According to the particulars of the offence, you Arona Tine, on or about the 19th Day of January 2024 at Westfield in the Kanifing Municipality of The Gambia and within, with malice aforethought, stabbed one Fatoumatta Kargbo with a knife causing her death thereby committed an offence.”
When the charge was read to the accused in Wolof language, he pleaded not guilty and the presiding Judge entered a plea of not guilty.
Also, the state counsel A. Gibba sought adjournment for them to call their first witness in the trial. He further sought the court to give a shorter and multiple days for the case.
Counsel O. Susso for the accused did not object to the adjournment sought by the state counsel but said he was expecting the state to prepare their witness.
The case was adjourned until April 30, 2024.