High Court Acquits Man Of Manslaughter Over Lack Of Evidence

The High Court in Banjul on Friday acquitted and discharged Salifu Keita, who had been standing trial on a single count of manslaughter, after ruling that the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence to sustain the charge.

Presided over by Justice Sidi K. Jobarteh, the court held that the state had not established a prima facie case against Keita, who was accused of causing the death of Abdoulie Badjie during a February 2025 altercation in Kuloro Village, West Coast Region.

Keita was initially arraigned on 24 July 2025 under section 186 of the Criminal Code. He pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

The prosecution called six witnesses and tendered the accused’s voluntary and cautionary statements as well as the post-mortem report of the deceased.
However, during a no-case-to-answer submission, defence counsel T.B. Jallow argued that the state had failed to present “any credible evidence” linking Keita to the alleged unlawful act or proving the essential ingredients of manslaughter.

State prosecutor A. Badjie countered that the evidence was neither “shaken” nor “discredited’’ and was strong enough to require the accused to enter his defence.

In her ruling, Justice Jobarteh noted that the testimony of the first prosecution witness, Alieu Badjie – a brother to the deceased – did not establish that Keita committed an act leading to the victim’s death. The witness had told the court that his child informed him that the deceased “suddenly fell” after a dispute with the accused. The deceased was later confirmed dead at Brikama Hospital.

The judge found that the prosecution’s evidence fell short of proving that Keita caused the fatal spinal cord injury cited in the charge.

“I am firmly of the view that no reasonable tribunal, properly directing itself on the law and evidence, can safely convict the accused of manslaughter on the materials before this court,” she ruled.

Justice Jobarteh concluded that the evidence on record could not sustain a conviction and upheld the defence’s no-case submission.

“The application of the defence succeeds and the accused, Salifu Keita, is accordingly acquitted and discharged,” she ordered.

The post High Court Acquits Man Of Manslaughter Over Lack Of Evidence appeared first on .

   The High Court in Banjul on Friday acquitted and discharged Salifu Keita, who had been standing trial on a…
The post High Court Acquits Man Of Manslaughter Over Lack Of Evidence appeared first on .