By: Dawda M. Jallow
Magistrate E.J Colley of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court has handed down a three-year mandatory jail term to one Joseph Demba following his admission of guilt on assault charges.
The court heard that Joseph on or about 19 July 2024, assaulted one Peter Colley in Kotu by stabbing him with a knife on both his hands thereby causing him grievous bodily harm.
In his plea for mitigation, Joseph said he was a first-time offender and promised never to commit such an offense again.
Adducing the facts of the matter, prosection officer Inspector Sowe narrated that the incident happened in Kotu on 19 July 2024, at around 9:00 pm.
According to her, Peter was sitting with a friend when Joseph approached him to buy cigarettes for him. Peter, Officer Sowecontinued, ignored him but Joseph was insisting that he must buy him cigarettes. The prosecution said Joseph started insulting Peter and as the abuse grew, the complainant decided to respond, leading to an altercation. The complainant, further narrated Officer Sowe, removed his shirt, took a knife out, and attempted to stab Peter and as he was fending off the attack with his hands, he got stabbed twice in the hand.
According to the prosecution, Peter’s mother reported the matter to the Anti-Crime and he was escorted to Ndemban Clinic, where he was admitted. The prosecution said Peter, who was present in court, was still receiving medical care. It sought a D200,000 payment for him to take care of his treatment but Magistrate Colley ordered Joseph to pay a D50,000 compensation failure of which, he would go to jail for two years.
