By Kemeseng Sanneh (Kexx)
A post-mortem examination has been ordered for Omar Badjie, the 27-year-old construction worker who died after a clash with police in Mandinary, following a formal application by his family. Principal Magistrate Anna O. Mendy of the Brikama Magistrate’s Court granted the order after the family filed documentation and swore an affidavit supporting their request.
A post-mortem (also called an autopsy) is a medical examination of a body after death. It is usually carried out by a pathologist to determine the cause of death, identify any injuries, diseases, or conditions, and collect evidence if the death is linked to suspicious or legal circumstances.
The process began yesterday morning when relatives arrived at the Banjulding Police Station to inform CID Sowe, who was acting under instructions from Commissioner Kujabi, of their wish for a post-mortem. After filling a consent form and giving eyewitness accounts of the incident, family members were accompanied by a police officer from the Banjulding CID to Brikama Police Station.
At Brikama, Tumani Badjie, a relative, swore an affidavit before a Justice of the Peace. The affidavit, together with the family’s official request, was then presented to Principal Magistrate Mendy at the Brikama Magistrate Court. The Magistrate approved the application and issued the order for a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death.
Commissioner Kujabi told the family that an independent doctor had been identified to conduct the examination, which is scheduled for today at 3:00 p.m. in Banjul. He also said the Crime Scene Management Unit will visit the alleged crime scene for reconstruction and evidence collection.
In his meeting with the family, Commissioner Kujabi urged them to help calm tensions in Mandinary. “In a pursuit for justice, there’s a starting point and ending,” he said.
As part of the investigation, four police officers alleged to have been involved in the incident have been arrested and placed under detention pending further inquiries.
