By Kemeseng Sanneh
Chief Inspector Momodou Touray of the Special Crime Unit attached at the Bakau Police Station on Monday, 4 December concluded his testimony in the murder trial of Kumba Sinyan, who allegedly killed her boyfriend, Lamarana Jallow.
Defence Lawyer Sagarr Twum concluded her cross-examination of Chief Inspector Touray.
Sinyan is facing a single count of murder. The prosecution alleged that she killed her boyfriend, Lamarana Jallow, by cutting his stomach with a razor blade, which caused his death.
Counsel Sagarr inquired about Touray’s whereabouts at the time of the incident, to which Touray responded that he was in Bakau, working as the Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Touray also mentioned that he was the lead investigator of the case, which included investigating the allegations and compiling a report for potential prosecution. He clarified that he supervised a team of officers that investigated the case.
The police statement of the witness was tendered and marked as an exhibit.
The witness said at the Kairaba Police Station Kumba Sinyan confessed that she committed the crime. The witness said a cautionary statement was obtained from the accused, and in that statement, she admitted to killing the victim. However, when shown the cautionary statement, Touray stated that he did not author it and could not tell whether the confession was recorded.
Sagar further questioned the witness asking whether he (Touray) questioned the accused about self-defence. The witness stated that Kumba Sinyan stated that she acted in self-defence but did not provide further details. Counsel Sagar asked whether the claim by Kumba regarding self-defence was investigated the witness said Kumba told them she was cut on her hand and she cut the stomach of the deceased with a razor blade.
Lawyer Sagar said the accused person had a cut on her hand and she was taken to hospital. The witness said the cut was small, to which Kumba Sinyan showed him. He added that Kumba was not taken to hospital.
The witness said there was an independent witness at the time of taking Kumba’s statement.
The defence lawyer claimed that the accused was not cautioned properly, but Touray insisted that she was cautioned properly.
The witness was discharged and the case was adjourned to Wednesday, at 1 pm for the continuation of hearing.
