One Adama Gaindeh was arraigned before the Special Criminal Court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Nkea facing one criminal charge of murder contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code of the Laws of The Gambia.

According to the particulars of the offence, the accused, Adama Gaindeh, on or about the 18th April 2011 at Faraba Village in Kombo East District, West Coast Region was alleged to have unlawfully caused the death of one Sainey Njai, a three-month-old baby by doing an act to wit: feeding him with a ‘soda’ chemical, knowing that death would be the probable consequence of such act.

The prosecution led by state counsel Saffie Sankareh opened the prosecution’s case, when the first prosecution witness, Sgt Michael Harding testified before the said court.

In his testimony, Sgt Harding, a CID officer, told the court that on the 2nd May 2011, whilst he was at his office, the accused was brought for questioning with regards to a murder case. The witness disclosed that after the accused was interrogated, he proceeded to obtain her cautionary and voluntary statements in the presence of an independent witness.

The witness revealed that apart from obtaining the accused person’s statements, he did not play any other role in the case. Sgt Harding however adduced that during interrogation, the accused disclosed that she was impregnated by somebody who had refused to accept the pregnancy after she gave birth.

The 2nd prosecution witness, Lamin Danjo, a nursing officer attached to the Brikama Health Centre told the court that on the 18th April 2011, at about 11:00pm whilst on duty at the said health centre, the accused came to the out-patient unit with a baby soliciting help.

The witness revealed that when the accused was asked what the matter was, the accused replied that the baby had eaten something and she did not know what the baby had eaten. He further told the court that the medical doctor was called, the child was diagnosed and the police were contacted and they were later referred to RVTH in Banjul. Hearing continues.