In the ongoing Doudou Janneh’s murder case, presided over by Senior Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara of Bundung Magistrates’ Court, on Monday the defense counsel, Lamin Camara, in his examination in chief asked the defendant, Doudou Janneh, if he knew PO Kalilou Sanneh, PW7. The accused answered in affirmative and added that he was the head of the team on the day of the incident.

Further asked if he knew Yasin Minteh, PW5, and Ebrima Minteh, PW1, he answered negatively. When asked if it was correct that he stabbed the deceased, the late Sherif Minteh, as stated by Ebrima Minteh, PW1, the accused said “no.”  Defense Counsel Lamin Camara further in his examination in chief asked if it was true that PW1 held the accused by his trouser to prevent him from running away (escape) from the incident, the accused said no.

He also answered the counsel’s question that PW5, Yasin Minteh, was not at the scene of the incident on that day. The defense counsel also asked Doudou Janneh if it was true that what Yasin Minteh had said, that she was told by the late Sherif Minteh that a paramilitary had stabbed him, the accused replied “no,” but he confirmed that neither him nor PO Kalilou Sanneh, PW7, were in uniform on the day of the incident.

When Lamin Camara asked him when the police told him that they were keeping him in protective custody what had been his impression, he said when he was told that he would be in protective custody he told them that “I want to go home, I did not do it.” Finally, defense counsel asked if that was all he had to say in the case. In a rather calmed voice, he said “there was no eye witness at that time, it was me, PO and my God.”

The case was then adjourned to 10 June 2008, for continuation. Meanwhile, outside the court, as the proceeding went on, the two families whose members are involved where on each other, but they were quickly dispersed by policemen while the accused person was whisked back to the Central Prison.