By Amadou Jadama
Senior magistrate Anna Mendy of the Brikama court has transferred a murder case involving one Mario Mendy to the High Court in Banjul.
Mario, a 41-year-old Senegalese national, is standing trial on a single charge of murder.
He is accused of causing the death of one Mariama Jaw by hitting her with a pestle like object on the head.
Mario, who was unrepresented, pleaded not guilty.
At the last hearing, police prosecutor ASP Buteh Sawaneh made an application for the case to be transferred to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court in Banjul.
Magistrate Mendy said the special criminal division presides over capital offences committed in any part of The Gambia.
“It is within the ambits of the directive that all capital offences be moved to the Special Criminal Court for trial. On the basis of that, I hereby transfer this matter to the high court [and] for the proper bill of indictment to be prepared by the Attorney General’s Chambers,” she said.
Consequently, she ruled that the accused be remanded at Mile 2 pending the filing of the formal bill of indictment.
