The high court has begun hearing the main trial of the man accused of killing three riot police officers near Sukuta last year. The proceedings on Monday saw the testimony of the sixth witness, police officer Ebou Sowe, who detailed his actions on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of September 2023 in obtaining the statement of Ousainou Bojang, the first accused person.

Officer Sowe informed the court that on the 14th of September, the suspect revealed his escape route out of The Gambia and how he was assisted by the second accused, Amie Bojang. According to the testimony, Amie Bojang provided Ousainou Bojang with a C class Mercedes Benz taxi that transported him from their residence in Brufut to the Gambia border village of Jiboro before proceeding to Senegal.

The witness also stated that Ousainou Bojang confessed to handing over a black bag containing documents, including a Senegalese ID card, to Amie Bojang. He further confessed that Amie Bojang hired a local motorcycle at the border to take him into Senegal.

As a result of Ousainou Bojang’s narration, Amie Bojang was arrested. During interrogation, Amie Bojang led investigators to the recovery of the black bag and its contents.

On the 15th of September 2023, Amie Bojang led investigators to the taxi driver, Abdoulie Drammeh, who confirmed he was hired to transport Ousainou Bojang from Brikama to the Gambia border village of Jiboro.

The witness also revealed that during the investigation, the motorcyclist who took Ousainou Bojang to Senegal was interrogated and confirmed his involvement.

Additionally, the police recovered three cartridges which were sent for ballistic testing, with the report received on 29th September. A disassembled pistol linked to a witness, Lamin Fofana, was found in an empty land. Lamin Fofana witnessed people chasing someone wearing a kaftan, wrestled the man down, and the man hit him with an object before fleeing. The object turned out to be the pistol.

The pistol was picked by the forensic team, and a witness statement was obtained from Lamin Fofana. A ballistic request was also sent to the defence headquarters for ballistic examinations, with the report confirming that the empty bullet cases recovered at the crime scene were fired by the pistol recovered.

The hearing is set to continue on 25th March.