Fourteen accused persons on Monday 12th March, 2007 entered their defence. The case was presided over by Magistrate E. F M'bai. The prosecutor was represented by 629 Mr. Saine. The fourteen accused persons are Edrisa Bah, Samba Jallow, Moses Mendy, Amadou Jallow, Ebou Jassey, Dawda Sanno, Amadou Camara, Ebrima Jallow, Bubacarr Jallow, cherno Bah, Janneh Jallow, Amadou Jallow, Abdoulie Jallow and Alieu Nyang.

In her testimony, the second defence witness, Fatou Jallow said that the first accused person was injured by P.I. U personnel while being arrested on 1st December last year. In their testimonies, all the fourteen accused persons except the 9th and 14 explained that they were on their march to Kanifing by foot, when their arrest was ordered by the police commissioner Mamud Jobe, at five Junction in Kunkunjang.

All the accused persons stated that some of them were detained at the Yundum station while the others were taken to Ghana Town and Gunjur stations, respectively. They further noted that their names were written by the police and have given statements at the said police stations.

The seventh accused person (Dawda Sanno), in his testimony said that he did not know anything about the alleged incitement of violence of which he is charged. Ebrima Jallow, the eight accused person noted that he was forcibly dragged into the case by one P.I.U officer while separate mission to the police station at Banjulinding. He further explained that he did insisted that he is wrongfully arrested, but that the said P.I.U officer on a insisted that he was part of the accused persons.

The thirteen accused, Alieu Nyang in his testimony noted that while on board a vehicle reaching five Junctions, he recognised some of his colleagues among the marching crowd and upon the request of a colleague who was part of them, he disembarked from the vehicle he and was thus arrested.

The accused person also noted that their resolved to March to Kanifing, was to locate the whereabouts of the first and seven accused persons who were reported to have been arrested on 1st December, 2006 and to further launch an appeal for their release.

While being cross examined, the ninth accused, Bubacarr Jallow told the court that those marching towards Kanifing were far more than the number arrested and put on board a vehicle to Yundum police station on the said date. Earlier on the eight accused Ebrima Jallow also noted that their relations were not allowed access to them while in detention. On being cross examined, the seventh accused, Amadou Camara denied having known the reason for the presence of the P.I.U personnel at the market and his subsequent arrest at the police station; he was not informed about the reason for his arrest despite enquiring.

Our readers could recall that the fourteen are part of the seventeen accused persons standing trial for their alleged acting without lawful authority in a manner calculated to lead to incitement of violence, destruction or damage to property. All the accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The alleged offence is reported to be committed by the accused persons on 1st December 2006 at Old Yundum and Sinchu Alagie Villages, respectively, in the Kombo North District. The case was adjourned to Tuesday 20th March for the defence of the last two accused persons.