By Mama A. Touray
The Kanifing High court’s presided over by Justice Isatou Janneh, on Wednesday, adjourned an alleged murder trial involving Ali Sowe, Verfeng Correa, and Simon Sambou.
It could be recalled that the state on the last adjourned date sought for an adjournment to put their house in order, the case, however, could not be further mentioned as the state is awaiting the approval of a written opinion on the matter to be filed as a bill of indictment.
State counsel AA Marong in his submission said “We received the file from the Inspector General of Police Office, we have written an opinion now waiting for approval to guide us to the necessary steps to be taken, we, therefore, pray the indulgence of the honorable court to adjourn the matter and before the next adjourned date we will file a bill of information”
Counsel Baboucarr Bouye for the first and third accused persons said he doesn’t have an objection about the state seeking an adjournment but from the last adjourned date to now it has been a month, and the faith of the accused persons hanging, we urge the state to file a bill of indictment before the next adjourned date.
For his part Counsel Edward for the second accused person in his submission said he has no objection to the state seeking an adjournment but wants the court to put into consideration that the accused persons are entitled to a free hearing citing from the provision of the 1997 constitution.
He continued: “It is ultimately two months since the accused persons were arrested and detained at the mile two central prison. The fundamental rights of the accused persons matter,” citing from the constitution that the fundamental rights of the accused persons should be protected by the court. “I pray my learned counsel to file a bill of indictment before the next adjourned date,” he pleaded.
Justice Isatou Janneh however adjourned the matter to the 14th of March 2023 at 12:30 in the afternoon for further mention.
According to particulars of offense, Ali Sowe, Verfeng Correa, and Simon Sambou on or about the 12th of December 2022, at Kotu in Kanifing municipality, with malice aforethought jointly assaulted Musa Badjie causing his death.
