The trial of an alleged Bundung murder case involving Bakary Daffeh commenced yesterday before Justice Moses Richards of the Special Criminal Court Division of the High Court.

Bakary Daffeh is alleged to have murdered his sister, Kumba Daffeh, on 30th June 2009, at Bundung by hitting her with an iron bar.

Testifying as the first prosecution witness, detective First Class 2708, Yerro Saidy attached to the Major Crime Unit told the court that he recognised the accused, Bakary Daffeh and he could recall 2nd July 2009.

He explained that on the day in question, the accused Bakary Daffeh was referred to the Major Crime Unit from Bakoteh Police Station on an allegation of murder.

According to him, he was directed by his Station Officer to obtain cautionary statement from the accused. He added that the accused voluntarily agreed to give his statement in the presence of an independent witness. He said at the end of the statement the accused thumb printed it, while he and the independent witness signed on it.

The second prosecution witness to testify in the case was Fatou Daffeh, who told the court that, she shares the same parents with the deceased, Kumba Daffeh and the accused Bakary Daffeh.

According to her, the accused told their grand-mother that he is entitled to the share of the compound, of which the grand-mother told him that he was not entitled to the share of the compound. She went on to say that, the accused then started insulting the grand-mother and was driven away from the compound.

She informed the court that, the compound was owned by the grand-mother. She further adduced that at around 5am, she heard the deceased screaming, saying “Bakary you have killed me.”

She testified that she asked the deceased what had happened with her and was told that it was the accused who had hit her with an iron bar. She revealed that the accused later ran away, while the deceased was taken to Jammeh Foundation for Peace Hospital.

She further told the court that the deceased was later referred to the RVTH where she was scanned and discovered to be suffering from internal injuries. She told the court that the deceased later died.

Also testifying, the third prosecution witness, Alieu Faye told the court that he knows the deceased, Kumba Daffeh, as well as the accused Bakary Daffeh.

According to him, on 29th June 2009, he was called and informed that the accused was insulting in the compound, adding that when he came to the compound he found the accused had taken to his heels.

He testified that at around 5am of 30th June 2009, he heard the deceased crying and screaming and when he came to find out he saw the deceased lying down, saying that she was stabbed with an iron bar by the accused.

He told the court that she was thereafter rushed to Jammeh Foundation for Peace Hospital where she was later referred to the RVHT.

The fourth prosecution witness was the grand-mother, Mam Kumba Secka, who told the court that she knows the deceased and the accused as she is a grand-mother to both of them.

According to her, on 29th June 2009, she provided breakfast for the accused and gave him extra money. She said the accused later came back and told her that he was entitled to the share of the compound, of which she told the accused that he was not entitled to the share of the compound.

She informed the court that she further told the accused that it was his mother who is entitled to the share of the compound, and that he is only entitled to the share of his father’s compound.

The grand lady further told the court that, it was then that the accused started insulting her and later left the compound. She said the accused returned to the compound at around 5am, entered the house, took an iron bar and stabbed the deceased with it.

She added that she heard the deceased screaming and upon inquiry, the deceased told her that she was stabbed with an iron bar by the accused.

She concluded by informing the court that the accused later ran away and went to report himself to the police.

The case was adjourned to 6th October 2009.