One Sittafa Mara, on Tuesday June 22, entered his defense after the prosecution, led by DPP Richard Chenge closed its case recently before Justice Moses Richards of the Special Criminal Division of the High Court in Banjul.

The accused is alleged to have caused the death of one Abdoulie Ceesay by stabbing him with a knife. The accused, who was a resident of Latrikunda before the incident took place in December, 20, 2007, denied the charges and said he had never met the deceased. The accused said on December 20, 2007, whilst he was at his home, and around 8:00am, some paramilitary officers broke into his house an informed him that he was under arrest.
He said they never told him why he was arrested, but he was taken to a nearby compound and shown the deceased lying on the floor.

The suspect said he was later taking to a police station. When his legal counsel, Lawyer Kebba Sanyang, informed him that some of the witnesses who had testified in the case had stated that he was popularly called 50 Cent and usually sold operated a Tangana (a place where tea, coffee and associated foodstuff are sold), the accused denied these, and declared that he was a broom seller.

During his cross examination, DPP Richard Chenge described the accused as an incorrigible liar, noting that one of the prosecution witness, Alagie Ndow, who had testified that he had seen him stabbing the victim, had confronted him and told him that the man he had stabbed on the neck because he took milk from him, was lying down dead in his house.
Hearing continues.