By Rohey Jadama
Justice Eunice Dada of the Banjul High Court has yesterday 12 July, 2016 adjourned the trial involving Lawyer Ousainou Darboe,
Party Leader of United Democratic Party and 19 other supporters of his party for adoption of addresses.
When the case was called, Hadi Saleh Barkun, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) told the court that the matter is slated for adoption of written addresses. He further told the court that they have filed the prosecution’s written address in the morning and subject to the court’s convenience they wish to adopt it.
However, Justice Dada told the DPP to serve each of the accused persons with the copy of the said written address. Responding to the judge, the DPP said the other copies are in the process of filing at the registry. He applied for the matter to be stood down to enable him serve the accused persons and the application was granted by the court.
When the case resumed, the DPP informed the court that they have complied with the order of the court and that all the accused persons are served with the copy of the written address.
At this stage the trial judge told the court interpreter to confirm service from the 1st -20th accused person. When they were asked by the interpreter as to whether they are served, some of the accused persons nodded their heads, while others pointed at the copy of the said written address.
The interpreter was again ordered by the court to ask the accused persons whether they intend to react to it. When Darboe was asked whether he needed time to reply, he said let the court apply the law. However, when Kemeseng Jammeh and Femi Peters were asked, the former told the court that he is just been served in court and needed time to react to it, while the latter told the court that he is also just been served but will look at it.
However some of the accused persons said they are not literate, others said they have no knowledge of the address, while others said they leave it at the discretion of the court.
At this juncture, the DPP interjected and told the court that he was given 7 days to file and that the same should be given to the accused persons.
Justice Dada said in view of the different responses from the accused persons as to whether they wish to reply to the prosecution’s written address, 7 days is given for them to reply to it.
Subsequently, Justice Dada adjourned the case to 19th July, 2016 for adoption of written address.
