Woman charged with matricide pleads not guilty

Suwaneh is facing a single count of murder contrary to section 187 of the Criminal Code Cap 10:01 Vol. III Revised Laws of The Gambia 2009.

The prosecution (State) alleged that on or about 27 October 2024 at Tujereng Village in the Kombo South Region of the Republic of The Gambia and within the jurisdiction of the High Court, Fatou Suwaneh caused the death of one Binta Bojang by hitting her with a pestle on the head and thereby committed an offence.

The deceased, Binta Bojang, was the biological mother of the accused, Fatou Suwaneh, and they were staying in the same compound at the time of the alleged incident.

The case was before Hon. Justice Isatou Jallow-Sey of the Bundung High Court. Sources close to the case revealed that the accused person could not take her plea due to a mental health issue.

The accused was referred to Tanka Tanka for mental health treatment before the transfer of the case to Hon. Justice Jaiteh.

Sources further revealed that the case had been transferred to Hon. Justice Jaiteh, as Hon. Justice Jallow-Sey recused herself for personal reasons.

The case file was handed over to Hon. Justice Jaiteh on  3rd of February 2026.

Justice Jaiteh then ordered that the state and defence counsels, together with the accused, appear before him to discuss an order for a medical test of the accused to determine whether she is fit to stand trial.

When the accused appeared before Hon. Justice Jaiteh and the charge was read to her, she replied that she was not aware of killing her mother while in tears in the courtroom.

However, Justice Jaiteh entered a plea of not guilty in the record. And the case was adjourned till 24 March 2026 for the testimony of the first Prosecution Witness (PW1).