police asked one shopkeeper whether she purchased the razor blades from him, but the businessman said he did not see her. At the Stadium, she said ASP Binta Njie tried to force her to enter Room 111 of the Hostel, but she declined to go with them. From the Hostel, she said she was taken back to the Bakau Police Station where she gave the police a contact of Lama’s aunt, Sally. She added that she was taken to the Kotu Police Station and was returned to the Bakau Station because it was crowded.
Kumba said she suffered injuries on the night of the incident. She added that she was injured on her finger, neck and genital part. She explained that she informed the police about it, but they did not take her to the hospital for medical checkup. She claimed that the police took her pictures, but failed to tender them in court.
She said in the evening, she was taken back to her house for another search. Before that, she said she was taken to the Kanifing Police Station where she was kept in a cell. She added that when she was taken out of the cell, she found receptionist Demba sitting, who was calling on her to say the truth to get her freedom. She said from there, she was taken to the Kairaba Police Station and she spent the night there. She recalled that the police wanted to take her statement, but she chose not to give it. She said on the following day, she was taken to the CID Office of the Kairaba Police Station to give her statement.
She said she spoke in the Wolof Language and there was no independent witness. She added that she told the police that she acted in self-defence. She narrated that after giving her statement, she was taken back to the cell and later one Samba came to her with a paper requesting her to thumbprint the statement.
She said she was held by the police from Wednesday to Monday, when she was arraigned before the Kanifing Magistrate’s Court.
She said her voluntary and cautionary statements were not read to her by the police. She added that the statement taker did not write what she stated.
Counsel Sagarr Twum applied to the court to get the phone, which was already in evidence, to extract the video and put it in a flash drive, and for the content to be transcribed. The prosecution objected to the application claiming that it would only prolong the case. The court refused the application on the basis that the phone and all its content were already tendered in court.
Justsice Sidi Jobarteh said whatever content the defence needs from the phone can be extracted in open court and in the presence of the prosecution.
Kumba said the video was taken on the 7th June 2021. The video in question is the one showing Lamarana Jallow apologizing to Kumba. She was asked about the pictures in her phone she wished to rely on. She stated that they were in her WhatsApp, but the app needs to be updated. After updating it in court, she could not access the content because the verification code was sent to her Africell number.
The case was adjourned to the 30th July 2024 at 11 am.
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