The defence lawyer for the accused persons from Gidda, Lawyer M. Mbaye, Monday 7th May 2012, announced the closure of the defence case after the defence witness DW4 Saidou Badjie ended his evidence-in-chief in the ongoing criminal trial involving the state against Momodou Jatta and 84 other people from Giboro and Gidda villages at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court.

The case was presided over by Magistrate Hilary Abeke. It could be recalled that the accused persons are standing trial on conspiracy to commit felony, disobedience to lawful orders and threatening violence, all contrary to the Laws of The Gambia and the alleged incident occured on the 31st January 2010.

Testifying before the court, DW4 Saidou Badjie, a native of Gidda Sukuta and a farmer, revealed that they went for a clearing exercise on their farm on a Saturday and went to finish it on Sunday the 31st January 2010. DW4 said while they were at the farm using rakes, spades, cutlasses and axes to clear their village garden, the police came and met them there and told them to stop the clearing and sit down which he said they adhered to.

He explained that while sitting down, after 10 minutes they saw some other police officers coming with people of Giboro towards them. The witness disclosed that they were later asked to enter the vehicle where the Giboro people were which they did. “We used to clear the said land every year but we never know that it was a restricted land,” DW4 said.

During cross-examination led by Chief Inspector L. Touray, the witness said he is 25-years-old and a younger brother to the Alkalo of Gidda. He denied being aware of a meeting summoned by the Chief, Basirou Jarju against the two villages to answer him. He also denied knowledge of the Governor of West Coast Region calling a meeting of the alkalolu, advising them to maintain peace and restrict themselves from the said lands.

DW4 denied that they were arrested because there was a land disputes between the two villages on the day in question, noting that the land dispute between the two villages had finish long time ago. The case was then adjourned to the 30th May 2012 for address and adoption.