Justice MM Yamoa of the of the High Court in Banjul on Friday, sentenced one Mbye Gaye to 15 years imprisonment, after a u-turn in his plea to guilty of manslaughter.

Mbye Gaye unlawfully murdered one Alasan Sarr, a resident of Churchill’s Town on  27 August, 2002. He first pleaded not guilty, before he changed the course of the trial, following an amendment of the charge from murder to manslaughter.

This compelled his counsel Victoria Andrews to enter a plea, bargaining on his behalf. In her plea, Lawyer Andrews urged the court to consider the years her client has spent in remand. She further informed the court that the accused has regretted his unintentional killing of Alasana Sarr and urged the court to exercise mercy on her client.

In her judgement, Justice Yamoa said she has considered the years the accused has spent in remand and therefore proceeded to sentence him to 15 years in jail with hard labour.