One Newton Nefe, a Nigerian who is accused of attempted robbery with violence, yesterday denied committing the act. 

He was testifying before Justice Moses Richards of the Special Criminal Court in Banjul. The accused and one other person who is presently at large were alleged to have attacked one Susan Baxter in her house, beat her up, injured her severely by using an iron rod, tied her up and demand for her money on May 25, 2008 at Sukuta village in the Kombo North District of Western Region.

In his testimony, the accused revealed that on May 25, 2008, said between 9 - 10 pm, he left his home to go to the bakery to get some bread and on his way, he heard two people making catcalls, but he didn't answer. The accused said suddenly, a motor vehicle passed him and the two people who were making the catcalls eventually approached him and there was a scuffle between him and the two people, which attracted people to the scene.
The accused said the car that passed him then drove back and a police officer alighted from the vehicle and asked him where he was coming from.

The accused explained he told him that he wanted to get some bread and that he also lives around the neighbourhood. The accused said after he identified himself to the police, he was bundled into the vehicle and whilst he was inside the vehicle, he got the information that robbery had taken place in the neighbourhood.

The accused said at the police station he was lynched and beaten into coma and had no knowledge of what transpired until the following day. The accused however denied ever making both the cautionary and voluntary statements. He further denied every allegation made against him and said he never thumb printed any documents. The accused told the court that he was taken to the hospital and then tendered a broken tooth alleged to have been from him.
Hearing continues.