Magistrate Ayoub John Njie of the Brikama magistrates Court on Monday convicted and sentenced a youth from Sanyang Village to three years imprisonment, after admitting guilt on four of the five counts of felony, theft, attempted murder and unlawful escape from lawful custody.  

However, Mr Saidy has pleaded not guilty on the third count of stealing D3,000 cash, leading to the adjournment of the trial.

Narrating the facts before the court, police prosecutor Sub-Inspector Saine said the convict broke into the shop of one Abdoulie Ceesay at Sanyang Village and stole a mobile phone. He said the accused was later apprehended and taken to the police station, where he was locked in a cell. Sub-Inspector Saine told the court that the convict later took a rope in an attempt to strangulate himself, adding that this was subsequently thwarted after the police noticed it.

He said Abdou later managed to escape from the police through a small window, but was later caught by the police at Sibanor Village in Foni.

In his plea for mitigation, Abdou begged the court to exercise mercy, as he was a first time offender. He also told the court that he would not repeat the act again. But the presiding Magistrate Njie went on to slam a tough sentence on him.