Gambia: Father denies murdering son
By Gambia Correspondent – Alhagie Modou Jeng, the biological father to one Malick Jeng now deceased, and Dembo Bojang, yesterday denied murdering Malick Jeng when state prosecutors arraigned them at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul to answer a five-count indictment brought against them.
They were charged with conspiracy to murder, administration of noxious substance to endanger or cause grievous harm, murder, rash or negligent act causing death and failure to provide the necessities of life and, thereby, endangering life.
The indictment on count one stated that on 1st March 2010, at various places, the accused persons conspired among themselves to murder one Malick Jeng.
Count two indicated that the duo on the same month and date at the premises of Demba Bojang in Somita village, administered noxious things on the person of Malick Jeng, which endangered his life.
The third indictment read that the accused persons on 1st March 2010 in Somita village unlawfully caused the death of Malick Jeng.
Count four alleged that the accused persons on the same date and place rashly and negligently administered herbs on Malick Jeng, and thereby caused his death.
Count five of the alleged offence stated that the accused, Alagie Modou Jeng, between January and March 2010 in The Gambia being the biological father of Malick Jeng and the person charged with the duty of providing necessities of life, failed to provide orthodox medication to Malick Jeng, and thereby caused his death.
Shortly after plea taking, the Director of Special Litigation, Daniel O. Kulo, told the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with the case.
However the defence counsel, L.S. Camara, told the court that he needed time to study the indictment.
The presiding judge, Justice J.E. Ikpala, subsequently adjourned the case till 15th February.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the murder trial involving Terrick Bright, a Sierra Leonean and Lady Christina Nobi, a Ghanaian, also reached its climax at the Special Criminal Court, as the trial judge Justice Ikpala has now set 7th April 2011 as the day he will deliver judgment in the case.
This followed the closure of both the prosecution and defence case, and subsequent filing of written briefs which were all duly adopted by the court.
The prosecution led by S.H. Barkun, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, in order to prove a prima-facie case against the accused persons, had called in eight witnesses that testified in the case, while the defence only opened their defence without calling in any witness.
Terrick Bright was alleged to have murdered one Amie Bah on 16th September 2010, at Latrikunda German in the Kanifing Municipality of The Gambia.
The prosecutor also charged Lady Christina Nobi for knowing fully about the death of Amie Bah, and assisting Terrick Bright, her foster son, to dispose of the body of the said Amie Bah in a remote place.
They both have denied the charges, and were represented by Lawyer Uzoma Achigbue.
