By Mama A. Touray
In a quiet yet busy courtroom before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the Banjul High Court, Lamin Minteh, the fourth prosecution witness, testified in the ongoing murder trial of Mariama Jallow, a resident of Brufut Santa-Su, accused of killing Cherno Touray.
According to the charge sheet, Jallow is charged with murder. The particulars of the offence allege that on or about November 29th 2023, in Brufut Santa-Su, she “intentionally caused the death of Cherno Touray by stabbing him with a knife.”
Taking an oath to speak the truth, witness Lamin Minteh recounted the events of the night. “It was around 9:40pm. I was watching football with my boys when my nephew ran in shouting, ‘Uncle, someone was stabbed.’ We then ran to the scene and found the deceased, Cherno Touray, on the ground,” he told the court.
“His rib was tied with a white women’s scarf. People were debating whether he was dead or not, but he was in a critical condition. I suggested that we take him to the hospital,” he continued. Minteh said he and one Ousman Manneh helped transport Cherno to the hospital.
He further testified that while at the scene, he was told that the accused had fled to her house. “We rushed to the compound where she lives. The door was locked, and even after we knocked, she did not open,” Minteh said.
According to him, the landlord later came out, and they informed him that his tenant had allegedly stabbed someone. They then split into two groups, leaving some people at the compound to prevent her escape while others went to alert the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) in Brufut.
“When the officers arrived, some of us were outside while others were inside. The officers locked the gate and knocked on the accused’s door, identifying themselves as PIU officers. She then opened the door. They went inside and came out with the accused, handcuffed, holding a knife with a green handle,” Minteh testified.
He said they followed the officers and the accused to the police station using Sulayman’s vehicle. “At the station, we were asked to explain everything, and we did,” he added.
When asked to describe what he saw at the scene, Minteh said: “I saw blood on Cherno’s side waist. I cannot recall what I saw on the knife, but I saw a knife with a green handle in the officers’ possession.”
During cross-examination, the witness stated that the incident occurred on a Thursday night, noting that he usually watches Europa League matches on Thursdays. Defence counsel F.C. Anyanwu challenged this, stating that November 29th 2023 was a Wednesday.
Minteh responded, “Unless I check the calendar, but my mind is on a Thursday, unless you can prove me wrong.” When counsel insisted the date fell on a Wednesday, the witness replied, “I admit the date, but I was watching a match on the day of the incident.”
Counsel then accused the witness of concealing the truth, which Minteh denied.
The matter was adjourned to November 20th 2025 at 11am for the fifth prosecution witness (PW5) to testify.
By Mama A. Touray In a quiet yet busy courtroom before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the Banjul High Court, Lamin Minteh, the fourth prosecution witness, testified in the ongoing murder trial of Mariama Jallow, a resident of Brufut Santa-Su, accused of killing Cherno Touray. According to the charge sheet, Jallow is charged with murder. The The Fatu Network
