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Gambia News : Implicating Testimony At Sheriff Minteh's Murder Trial

The seventh prosecution witness in the criminal trial involving Dodou Janneh (alias Dodou Boy), Kalilu Sanneh, has told the court that Sheriff Minteh (the victim) had told him at the scene of the crime that the accused person stabbed him. He made this statement while testifying in the trial presided over by Magistrate Kumba Sillah Camara at the Bundung Magistrates' Court, on Wednesday, 16 April, 2008.

Sub-Inspector Sanneh headed the task force that was assigned to patrol the London Corner area on that fateful night, when Sheriff Minteh was allegedly murdered.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, Lamin Camara, PW7 told the court that the witness made a statement to the police but he, himself, did not write it. When asked whether he can remember the date the statement was made, he answered in the negative. The statement was tendered by the defence counsel and marked defence exhibit 2. He further told the court that he did not know the accused, but only met him at the station as a police volunteer. Lawyer Camara then put it to him as thus," it is correct that you told the court in your evidence in chief that the accused was standing near someone lying on the ground by a garage, but that is not in your statement,". Sanneh told the court that he had instructed the person who wrote the statement to indicate it in the statement, but he did not do that.

PW7 further said that he is not a literate and did not attend basic education. He also indicated that he told the person who wrote the statement to include that Sheriff Minteh told him that the accused stabbed him. He said he was enrolled in the prison service in 1989.

When questioned about the requirement to join the prison services, PW7 stated that he was enrolled through his profession as a welder. Going further he said that prior to his enrolment, his boss designed a certificate for him to show that he is a qualified welder. He answered that he works at the welding unit of the prison. During cross-examination by defence counsel Jobarteh, PW7 told the court that after the operation, his boss wrote a statement for him. When asked how many spots they were assigned to go to, PW7 said he and his team were assigned to patrol London Corner, Dippa Kunda, Kololi and around the Independence Stadium.

When asked whether his team was informed about any problem in London Corner concerning a gang of boys who smoke cannabis and sometimes mug people, PW7 responded that they were specifically assigned to look for two women, who were said to be fighting in London Corner. He explained that upon their arrival, they were unable to see the two women. PW7 said that the purpose of their patrol was to maintain peace.

He told the court that on their return, they found boys at London Corner. PW7 maintained that when the boys saw the police vehicle they dispersed.

"I am putting it to you that you are very good at story telling," said Counsel Jobarteh.

PW7 further responded that they searched the area where the boys were. The defence counsel however told the witness to answer his questions directly. PW7 told the court that the late Sheriff Minteh was followed by Dodou Janneh who, he said, caught him and inflicted injuries on him. PW7 maintained that the statement he made before and the one he gave in his evidence in chief are the same.

The case was adjourned to Monday, 21 April, for continuation of the cross examination by the defence counsel.