By Betty Ceesay
Accused Kumba Sinyan’s Defense Counsel Mrs. Twum has absented in the current trial of her client adjourned for 13thDecember 2023. And that the presiding Judge Hon. Justice Sidi K. Jobarteh enquired to the State Counsel M. Sayangabout any correspondence from the defense counsel regarding her absent, which he confirmed with this statement in her letter: “I write to inform you that due to ill health, I am unable to appear in the above-mentioned case slated for hearing today Wednesday, 13th day of December 2023 at 1:00 pm. I therefore crave the indulgence of this Honourable Court for an adjournment to a convenient date. I apologize to the Court and the Prosecution for any inconvenience caused.”
The request for adjournment because of poor health condition was not objected by the State Counsel M. Sanyang but he however, notified the court that the 10th Prosecution Witness (PW10) was present in court as their final witness with a very busy schedule for next adjourned date.
“Our witness is a busy person, and we always find it difficult to have him because of his busy schedule. I want the court to put that in the record in case we cannot get him in the next adjourned date,” State Counsel informed the court.
Hon. Justice Sidi K. Jobarteh granted the State Counsel’s submission and adjourned the matter to December 18, 2023.
In reflection, Kumba Sinyan a young entrepreneur is charged with murder contrary to section 187 of Criminal Code Cap: 10:01 Revised Laws of the Gambia 2009.
Prosecutors alleged that the suspect on or about the 14th of September 2022 at The Friendship Hostel in Bakau, with malice aforethought, caused the death of one LamaranaJallow by cutting his stomach with an object and thereby committed an offence punishable with death under section 188 of the Criminal Code Cap of the Laws of the Gambia 2009.
