GAMBIA: DRIVER SENTENCED TO DEATH IN UPPER RIVER REGION

December 20, 2022:

Justice Landing M. Sanneh, the presiding Judge of the High Court in Basse, in the Upper River Region (URR) has sentenced Bakary Jallow, a driver by profession to death for reportedly killing one Alieu Sanyang, The Point reported on 20 December 2022.
“This particular case is very unfortunate as the deceased (Alieu Sanyang) was on his way for his marriage transactions when he untimely died,” Justice Sanneh said.
“I have listened to the defence counsel’s plea of mitigation on behalf of the convict Bakary Jallow, I must, however, say that the court’s hands are tied by the provisions of Section 188 of the Criminal Code Cap 10 Volume 3 Revised Laws of The Gambia which makes the punishment for the offence of murder once proved to a mandatory and statutory punishment to death sentence,” he said in his ruling.
“The offence of murder is increasing in this jurisdiction and by large extension in the country and in most cases, it’s the youthful population whose lives are taken recklessly which the courts have an endless role to avert the frequent occurrence in the society.”
“Fortifying myself under the provisions of Section 188 of the said Act, the convict Bakary Jallow, is hereby sentenced to death.”
The sentence, he added, is to be carried out by his Excellency the President of The Republic in a manner prescribed by the law. He equally reminded the party of their right to appeal the judgment.
The accused person Bakary Jallow when arraigned for the offence of murder contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code Cap 10 Volume 3 Revised Laws of the Gambia 2009, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The particulars of the offence alleged that the accused person on 24 July 2020 at Yorro Berry Kunda (YBK) in the Central River Region within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court caused the death of one Alieu Sanyang wit: stabbing him with a screwdriver causing his death; thereby committed an offence.