The second day of Michael Sang Correa’s trial in a Denver federal courtroom brought gut-wrenching testimony from survivors of Gambia’s “Junglers” death squad, an alleged paramilitary group tied to ex-dictator Yahya Jammeh’s reign of terror. Correa, accused of participating in the unit’s atrocities, sat silently as witnesses described a legacy of torture and despair.
The trial kicked off Monday with prosecutors painting Correa as a willing enforcer of brutality while his defense insisted he was a coerced pawn in a ruthless regime.
On Tuesday, the focus shifted to survivor accounts that underscored the human cost of Jammeh’s 1994-2017 rule. Justice Department attorney Marie Zisa had told jurors, “The victims have not forgotten his cruelty,” a sentiment echoed in the day’s testimony. Defense lawyer Jared Westbroek, meanwhile, maintained Correa “had no choice but to follow command” under constant threat.
A Gambian politics expert, Dr. Maggie Dwyer, opened proceedings with a broad overview of the nation’s history, setting a grim context for what followed. Alieu Jobe, arrested after a failed 2006 coup, recalled relentless beatings with metal rods by a figure he called “Rambo,” all while his pregnant wife waited at home. “They tortured me repeatedly,” he testified, his voice heavy with memory.
Yaya M.S. Darboe, who endured over nine years in captivity, spoke of losing his father, brother, and marriage to the Junglers’ violence. He pointed to Correa as an “aggressive” presence during torture sessions, calling the squad “terrible people.” Both Jobe and Darboe were freed in a 2015 pardon by Jammeh.
Charged under U.S. laws targeting overseas human rights abuses, Correa faces a potential life sentence. The trial, a striking example of American justice confronting foreign crimes, resumes Wednesday with more testimony anticipated.
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