Voir dire in Jambur case

A voir dire (trial within a trial)to authenticate the voluntariness of the statements of the Jambur youths will start before Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh of the Brikama Magistrates Court today.

This development came following an objection made by the defence counsel, Badou Counteh, when the prosecution tried to tender a voluntary statement obtained from Foday Bojang, one of the four accused persond.

In his objection, Counsel Conteh said the statement the prosecution intended to tender was not obtained voluntarily. Lawyer Contehe argued that the statement was thumb printed and if it was voluntarily obtained from his client, it would have been signed as his client is literate in English. He alleged that it was the police who wrote their own statement, took Foday’s thumb and placed it on the document.

At that juncture, the presiding Magistrate said the court would go on a voir dire in order to determine the credibility of the document in dispute. Cadet Inspector Samateh assisted by Sergeant Samura represented the IGP.