Police testifies Manjang refused to give statements at Mile Two

Detective officer Ismalie J. Sowe of Kairaba Police Station, a native of Brikama and the second prosecution witness (PW2) in the ongoing murder trial against alleged notorious jungler Sanna Manjang, testified that Manjang refused to provide  cautionary and voluntary statements during a panel visit to Mile Two Prison.
According to the witness, he was tasked with obtaining cautionary and voluntary statements from the accused but he said he would only speak in the presence of his lawyer.

During his evidence‑in‑chief, the witness said: “I was ordered by my supervisor, DSP Demba Bah, to join an investigative panel which was looking into the killings of Kajali Jammeh and Samba Wurry Bah, allegedly perpetrated by the accused.”

He stressed that he was tasked with obtaining the cautionary and voluntary statements of the accused.

“On 17 January, I was also part of the panel led by witness Ensa Keita to visit a crime scene at Kanilai, where the accused allegedly carried out the killings.”

“Upon arrival at Kanilai, we proceeded to the warning garden where witness Ensa Keita identified a building used as a detention centre at the time,” he said. Sowe testified that the accused killed Kajali Jammeh using a long knife, after stabbing Samba Wurry with a knife.

Further asked by counsel Dugan what he observed during their visit to the detention centre, Sowe said: “I observed that the building had two rooms and a parlour, and witness Ensa Keita identified being detained in one of the rooms close to a window and also near a tap at the time.” He maintained that after their visit, photographs of the site were taken by the Crime Records Officer (CRO).

Asked again how he attempted to obtain the cautionary and voluntary statement of the accused, the witness explained: “I invited an independent person and introduced myself to him. Equally, I introduced the accused to the witness and then read the cautionary wording. However, the accused said he was not going to say anything in the absence of his lawyer. Again, he said he was not going to sign the statement even in the presence of the independent witness.”

On the issue of the voluntary statement, the witness stated that the accused again repeated that he would not sign anything without his counsel present.

At this juncture, the voluntary and cautionary statements were shown to him. The witness recognised the documents. The state counsel then applied to tender them into evidence in support of the prosecution. Following no objection from the defence, the statements were marked and admitted as exhibits by presiding Judge Jobarteh.

Cross‑Examination

During cross‑examination, the witness was asked whether it was true that they did not go with the accused to Kanilai. Sowe responded positively.

“And it’s equally correct, which you know and did not tell the court, that you never invited the accused to Kanilai during your visit,” defence counsel pressed. In reply, the witness stated: “I may not be able to know, because I am not the person responsible for the invitation. So, I don’t know.”

Counsel Jobe continued: “Is it also correct that all of you who were part of the investigation went to Kanilai?” Sowe rejected this assertion, adding that not all members of the panel visited Kanilai.

“Did you find any occupants at the place you called a detention centre?” Counsel Jobe asked. In response, Sowe stated that they found the place occupied by soldiers.

Counsel Jobe pressed further: “Are you aware that a guard room is not a detention centre?” Sowe replied that according to witness Ensa Keita, the building was used as a detention centre.

“I put it to you that the guard room you are referring to has never been used as a detention centre,” Jobe challenged. Sowe maintained that it was indeed used as a detention centre.

“I put it to you that the place you visited has always been used as a guard room since 2006 or even before,” Jobe inquired. Responding, Sowe insisted that the place was used as a detention centre.

Jobe then asked: “Is it also correct that during the entire investigation, the only two places you visited were Mile Two and Kanilai?” Sowe confirmed that Kanilai and Mile Two were the only sites he visited as part of his involvement.

“Is it also correct that you have never seen a dead body identified as Kajali Jammeh or Samba Wurry?” The witness responded affirmatively.

The case was adjourned to Tuesday, 10 March, at 12 noon.

Source: The Point