By: Fatoumatta J. Camara
The sister to the 14-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped in Pipeline by one Ebou Ceesay, on Tuesday told the KanifingMagistrates’ Court that her sister had informed her that Ceesay threatened to kill her if she shouted for help whilst he allegedly raped her.
The sister, also the first prosecution witness in the rape trial, testified under cross-examination that her sister also informed her that Ceesay confronted her on her way from the market to enquire whether she was still menstruating. The witness said when her sister told Ceesay that she had not seen her menstrual blood, Ceesay advised her to stay quiet and promised to buy her medicine. She added that her sister informed her that Ceesay demanded her number so that he could give her the medicine once he bought it.
The witness said she assured her sister not to cry over missing her period as she[witness] would report the matter to the Kanifing police station.
Meanwhile, Ceesay asked the defendant whether she was present when he allegedly raped her sister to which the witness replied in the negative.
“I wasn’t present but the one whom you raped informed me,” the witness added.
Ceesay quizzed the witness as to whether the victim did shout when he was allegedly raping her and the witness responded that her sister had told her that Ceesay had threatened to kill her if she shouted. The accused further quizzed the witness about the length of her sister’s pregnancy at the time of going to the hospital.
“The doctor told me that unless the pregnancy was scanned, the number of months could not be ascertained but when we finally did the scan, it was confirmed that the victim was 25 weeks pregnant,” the witness testified.
She informed the court that Ceesay’s relatives came to their home to beg for mercy on his behalf, adding that she had a preponderance of evidence against the accused.
The case was presided over by Principal Magistrate Sallah and the Inspector General of Police was represented by ASP Touray.
Hearing resumes on 7 February 2024.