The criminal trial of one Mohammed Singhateh, charged with killing one Muhammed Saidybah in Fajara on the 13th of December, 2005 resumed yesterday before Justice Joseph Wowo of the High Court in Banjul.

Testifying before the court, Superintendent of Police Alieu C Njie informed the court that on the 13th of December 2005, at about 9:00am, he was called and requested to visit the scene where the said Muhammed Saidybah was murdered. SP Njie said upon arrival at the scene, he saw a crowd of people and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) Jammeh and found the victim lying in a pool of blood very close to a compound gate.

The witness said he took photographs of the scene from all directions and later prepared a sketch plan and that thereafter, the corpse was moved to the mortuary via Kairaba Police Station. The witness added that he later handed over the photographs and the sketch plan to the investigating police officer, Buba Jammeh, after processing them.

The photographs and the sketch plan were tendered by the prosecutor, Principal State Counsel Shanaka, and they were admitted and marked as exhibits. In his testimony, one Abubacarr Sumare said he was on his way home around midnight on 11 December 2005, when he met the accused, Muhammed Singhateh, and one Modou Jallow fighting around the 777 gambling centre in Fajara.

He further said the two were separated by one Muhammed Terera, who took the accused to his residence and then returned to where Modou Jallow was selling coffee. The witness said as he was about to enter his compound, he saw the victim (Muhammed Saidybah) attacking Muhammed Trera with an iron bar, and added that the victim asked Muhammed Trera to go and bring the accused so that they could fight.

The witness further said after beating Muhammed Trera up, the deceased went ahead to smash the windscreen a vehicle belonging to him (Trera). The witness disclosed that Muhammed Trera then ran away but the deceased came to him and placed his hands on his chest and pushed him three times saying he should produce the accused.
Hearing to continue.