Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Supreme Court of The Gambia has postponed its highly anticipated ruling in the appeal case of Yankuba Touray, a former AFPRC military junta member sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Finance Minister Ousman Koro Ceesay.

The verdict, initially scheduled for today, has been pushed to Monday, April 15, 2025. Court officials provided no reason for the delay.

Touray, who served as a high-ranking official in the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) under former President Yahya Jammeh, was convicted and sentenced to death in 2021. His case is widely regarded as a milestone in The Gambia’s transitional justice process, marking the first murder conviction linked to the Jammeh regime.

A High-Stakes Legal Battle

Touray’s conviction followed a trial that captured national attention. The prosecution presented nine witnesses, including former soldier Alagie Kanyi, who testified that Touray participated in Ceesay’s brutal killing. The defense, led by lawyer A. Sissoho, argued that the trial was flawed and that the evidence against Touray was insufficient.

At the trial, Touray invoked constitutional immunity, claiming that the 1997 Constitution shielded him from prosecution as a former junta member. However, the Supreme Court ruled in January 2021 that he was not immune, allowing the trial to proceed.

Despite the defense’s no-case submission, Justice Ebrima Jaiteh found the prosecution’s evidence compelling and sentenced Touray to death by hanging on July 14, 2021. The conviction was later upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Awaiting the Supreme Court’s Final Verdict

Since his conviction, Touray has been fighting to overturn the decision, arguing that the trial court failed to properly assess the evidence. His appeal hinges on the claim that only one witness, Alagie Kanyi, directly implicated him in the crime.

While today’s ruling was expected to bring finality to the case, the delay means that the legal battle continues for another week. The courtroom was notably empty, with no family members of the victim present.

Touray’s case is seen as a test of The Gambia’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), which identified him among several individuals involved in serious human rights violations between 1994 and 2017.

For now, The Gambia waits as the Supreme Court prepares to deliver its long-awaited decision on April 15.