By Abdelkarim Jaiteh
The trial judge presiding over the case of the embattled former AFPRC junta member has warned the state counsel to observe d decorum in his court and not to dictate him what to do or else he with charge him with contempt of court.
The presiding judge made the warning following the defence request for the production of the record of previous proceedings of a trial involving the suspect, Yankuba Touray and others (report)
This is the second warning the trial judge made such warning since the commencement of the trial seven months now.
Wednesday, warning came after the attorney for the suspect informed the court that he has served the state counsel, AM Yusuf to produce the record of proceedings of a criminal trial between the state, Yankuba Touray and others.
However, this request did not seem to go down with the state counsel and requested that he also needed seven months to search for the said record of proceedings.
The is request by the state irritated the presiding judge to make a stringent warning, noting that the law is very clear on notice to produce a document while also referring the parties to sections in the Evidence Act
“I have given diligent hearing in this case; fair hearing should be accorded to both parties. The liberty of the suspect is at stake and I will not sit here to dictate me what to do. If you don’t like that you can go to another court and I will rescue myself from the case.
Your job as prosecutor is to present fact before the court in order to have justice at the end of the day,” Justice Jaiteh warned the state counsel, AM Yusuf who insisted that he also needed seven months to search for the document and if he walks out of his court he will charge him with contempt.
Meanwhile under cross-examination, Mr Kanyi told the court that when they were briefed by Edward Singhatey in the house, the suspect was not in the house but he was within the premises.
He recalled that no specific time was given to them as when they should meet at the compound of the suspect but confirmed that it was 8 PM onwards and upon their arrival they found the suspect at his compound.
The soft spoken Mr Kanyi said they did not meet any of the guard or the family of the suspect upon their arrival at the suspect compound.
“We were not in a combat readiness because we were not with AK 47 but in uniform at the time of the briefing which included myself, Tumbul Tamba, Pa Alieu Ngum and PK Jatta. We are soldiers but I don’t know what you mean by gallant soldier. I cannot determine the strength of the decease at the time because I did not know him. I can’t tell whether I kill or the suspect kill Koro Ceesay my lord and I can’t tell which of the blows kill the decease. Koro died as a participation of all of us including the suspect by beating him at the suspect’s house,” Mr Kanyi clarified.
The case at that point was adjourned to march for continuation.
