By Kemeseng Sanneh (Kexx)
A cameraman, who served as an independent witness at the time of taking the statement of Adama Tine at the Serrekunda Police Station, on Tuesday testified in his murder trial.
Currently, the court is holding hearings to test the voluntariness of the statement of Adama Tine, who said he did not make the statement freely.
The witness, Ebrima Janneh, a cameraman, said he resides in Dippa Kunda. He added that his experience operating as a cameraman spans about 24 years.
He said he recognised Arona Tine from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Office in the Serrekunda Police Station.
He recalled that on 24 January 2024 around 10 am to 11 am, while at work at his shop behind the Aisha Marie Cinema in Serrekunda, a person came to him and told him to answer at the Serrekunda Police Station.
“What did you do when you received this call?” State Counsel F. Drammeh asked.
“I went to answer and I was told by a CID Officer that they wanted to take someone’s statement,” he replied.
He identified the officer as Mr Bah.
“What happened in your presence when you were at the CID Office?” State Counsel Drammeh asked.
“I sat for a while then I saw them bring in someone, they told me they wanted to take the person’s statement in my presence as they wanted me to serve as an independent witness,” he said.
The witness said officer Bah took the statement of the accused person.
“Take us through how the police officer recorded Arona Tine’s Statement in your presence,” the State Counsel requested.
“While sitting inside on the right hand side, Arona was brought in and he sat on the left hand side and when he sat, I asked him in Wolof if he was ok and he said yes. He was seated freely. He was not being forced in my presence and he was not threatened while his statement was taken,” the witness said.
The witness stated that the officer was communicating with Arona in the Wolof language.
The case was adjourned to 28 October at 11am.
