By Kemeseng Sanneh (Kexx)
The High Court on Tuesday heard chilling testimony from a police officer who recounted how 16-year-old Cherno Manneh was fatally stabbed in Brufut last November, allegedly by Mariama Jallow, the woman now standing trial for his murder.
Mariama Jallow is accused of killing the teenager by stabbing him in the chest with a knife at her residence in Brufut Santosu on November 29, 2023. She has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code.
Taking the stand, Police Sergeant Babanding Jarju of the Anti-Crime Unit testified that his unit received a call from a member of the Brufut Village Development Committee (VDC) reporting a murder. Upon arrival at the scene, he said they found a mob of villagers surrounding the accused’s house, and police had to intervene to prevent an attack on Jallow.
“She had locked herself inside,” Sergeant Jarju told the court. “I knocked on the door, identified myself as a police officer, and asked her if she had committed the murder. She admitted to it.”
According to his testimony, Jallow then handed over the alleged murder weapon—a green kitchen knife—which she pulled from her suitcase. Sergeant Jarju identified the knife when it was shown in court. State Counsel F. Drammeh tendered it into evidence without objection from the defence, and it was marked as Exhibit P3.
Jarju said Jallow was arrested and taken to the Brufut police station for processing.
During cross-examination, he was pressed about the sequence of events. He explained that his team first visited the scene where the victim lay.
“We picked up the body and divided ourselves,” he said. “Some officers took the deceased to the hospital while others, including myself, went to the accused’s house.”
Asked whether he personally saw the victim before going to Jallow’s house, he said, “Yes, I saw the body. He was cold-blooded.”
Defence counsel also questioned the officer about the condition of the knife. Sergeant Jarju said it had blood on it when collected. When asked about the current appearance of the blood, he responded, “It was red when we collected it, but it has changed because this happened a long time ago.”
Asked who received the knife at the station and who was present, he admitted he couldn’t recall the names but said the police diary would have those details.
The testimony ended without any re-examination from the prosecution, and the witness was discharged.
The case resumes on July 7, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., when the Prosecution is expected to call its third witness.
