y Mafugi Ceesay
Combeh Gaye, state counsel in the NIA 9 trial, yesterday provided the court with the audio and video transcripts of witnesses, police and detainees, in connection with the murder of Solo Sandeng.
Gaye said some of the items on the exhibits are gloves used in exhuming the body of Solo Sandeng, the death certificate from Serekunda Hospital, transcripts of the audio recording of police and video of some of the detainees, which were already played before the court.
She urged the court to ask the defense to provide a hard drive on which the State can save both the video and audio recordings, noting that the transcripts are now ready but the video and audio recordings are vulnerable.
Meanwhile lead prosecutor Antouman Gaye informed the court that they have been notified by the police that their 25th prosecution witness Analang Badjie was unable to be reached on both his phones but that one of his seniors promised to pay him a visit at his house in Brikama so as to find out what went wrong.
Gaye also notified the court that they have filed a notice of additional exhibits on 21 May 2018.
Meanwhile witness Omar Sanyang, first class police officer yesterday told court that he took both the cautionary and voluntary statements of the 8th accused person Lamin Darboe on February 23, 2017, and was signed by him, an independent witness and the person himself but the defense counsel Saikou Fatty rejected that, arguing that legal procedures were not observed by the officers when taking the statements.
Lawyer Fatty also claimed that his client was induced with promises, being the reason he agreed to sign the said statements.
At this juncture RY Mendy, representing the State said they will reply to the defense later but want the lead counsel to address the court on their next witness.
