Hi By: Mama A. Touray
Lamin S Manneh, a Police investigator at Kotu Police Station, on Tuesday, testified before Justice Isatou Janneh of the Kanifing High Court on the alleged murder trial of Muhammed Touray, now deceased.
Police investigator, Lamin S Manneh giving his testimony narrated that on 16th April 2022, the first accused, Baba Camarawas brought to Kotu police station and that he was instructed to take his cautionary and voluntary statement.
Following the instruction, he said he called an independent witness Matarr Ceesay, who came and found the witness sitting and that the cautionary was read to the witness in the language he said he understood (Mandinka) in the presence of the independent witness.
“The accused Baba Camara narrated his side of the story and it was written, after recording his statements, I read it in Mandinka and he accepted that those are his exact words. He signed the statement by thumb-printing it. The independent witness and I, too, signed the statements” He added.
Officer Manneh told the court that after everything the accused was escorted to the cell and that he was not quashed.
Counsel M Barrow appearing for the first, second, third, and fourth accused, in cross-examining the witness was told by the witness that both the cautionary and voluntary statement of Baba Camara was taken at Kotu Police Station and that the independent witness Matarr Ceesay is also a resident of KotuEast.
Officer Manneh while responding to the questions of counsel M Barrow said “I have no idea if the independent witness is not far from the police station because what I recorded was where he is from (which is Kotu) and not where he lives and I have no idea if the witness is a well-known person”.
Investigative Officer Lamin S Manneh answering the cross-examination questions from senior counsel Borry Touray said he saw the independent witness Matarr Ceesay on the highway and approaches him that he wants to use him as an independent witness.
The witness was however discharged and the matter was adjourned to the 11th, 17th, and 18th of July 2023 for continuation of the hearing.
According to the statement of offence Baba Camara, AlasanaSowe, Assan Conteh, Modou Lamin Dahaba, and Omar Darboe, were allegedly charged with three counts, conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery, and Murder.
The statement of their offence stated that Baba Camara, AlasanaSowe, Assan Conteh, Modou Lamin Dahaba, and Omar Darboe on or about the 27th March 2022, at Palma Rima Beach, Senegambia allegedly conspired amongst themselves to rob, whilst armed with a dangerous or offensive weapon, robbed and caused the death of Muhammed Touray by stabbing him with a knife, thereby committed an offence.