Prosecution Tenders Pistol, Empty Shells, and Live Round in Ousainou Bojang’s Murder Trial
By Landing Ceesay
During the murder trial of Ousainou Bojang (1st Accused) and Amie Bojang (2nd Accused), the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), A.M. Yusuf, tendered crucial evidence to the court. This evidence comprised an alleged murder weapon (Pistol), empty bullet casings, and a live round, all submitted as Prosecution Exhibits.
Ousainou Bojang faces Six Charges, including the murder of two Police Intervention Unit (PIU) officers, while his elder sister, Amie Bojang, faces a single charge for accessory after the fact of murder.
Testifying as the Eighth Prosecution Witness (PW8), Police Investigator Francis Jatta informed the court of his affiliation with the Criminal Records Office of the Gambia Police Force (GPF). Jatta elaborated that his duties encompass maintaining records of convicted criminals, operating as a Crime Scene Investigator during site visits, analyzing evidence retrieved from crime scenes, and conducting fingerprint analysis. Additionally, Jatta apprised the court of the discovery of multiple exhibits both at the crime scene and within Ousainou Bojang’s residence.
“On the 13th of September 2023, when I arrived in the morning at work, we received instruction to set up a forensic team to visit the crime scene at the Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights. A team of four Personnel left the Police Headquarters’ Criminal Records Office, and the team was led by Ebrima Kagne, including myself (Francis Jatta), Bunangbass Manka, and the Fourth person was Edrisa Jarju.
“We left the Police Headquarters for the Crime Scene to join the other Investigators. We also called some of our Forensic Officers from other Units. The other Officer came from the anti-crime Unit, and the other one came from Brikama Police Station. The officer from Anti Crime is Salia, and Yahya Bojang is from Brikama Police Station. The team that met at the scene was 6 in number,” Mr. Jatta told the court.
Mr. Jatta mentioned that, in addition to the forensic team members, several other police officers were present at the Crime Scene. He noted the presence of Pateh Bah, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Fakebba Darboe, Thomas R.K. Gomez, and Commissioner Pateh Jallow.
“Did anything happen at the Crime Scene?” DPP Yusuf asked the witness.
“Yes, upon our arrival, we tried to do interviews and asked people to tell us what transpired. Then we were informed that two empty bullet cases were recovered. We requested to have those empty cases. After communicating with our team leader, He also contacted the Anti Crime Unit, who were present at the scene on the first day.
“When they brought the two empty cases, they told us where they picked them up. And we reconstructed the scene, we tried to control the place so that people would not have access to the scene. We did some search and took photos of the place by the roadside which was a lot hit by one of the bullets,” the witness responded.
Mr. Jatta stated that during the search, they found an additional empty bullet casing near the location where a vehicle had been parked.
He explained that in their investigation, they traced the path taken by the assailant to flee the scene following the tragic incident involving the Police Officers.
Mr. Jatta informed the court that while conducting their search, they discovered a live round bullet along the escape route believed to have been taken by the assailant.
“We continued our search for whether we will recover anything, but we could not recover anything at the time. After a thorough search, the team left the scene to Banjul. Upon arrival at the office, since we recovered evidence from the crime scene, the office wrote to the Gambia National Army for ballistic examination since we don’t have the capacity to conduct a ballistic examination,” Mr. Jatta testified.
Mr. Jatta said the empty bullet cases and one live round bullet were sent to the Gambia National Army for ballistic examinations.
“Did the Gambia Army do the analysis as requested?” DPP Yusuf asked.
“Yes, and the report was sent with the 3 empty cases and the live round,” Mr. Jatta responded.
After receiving the ballistic reports on the live round and empty bullet cases, Mr. Jatta stated that they were then forwarded to the Prosecutors and incorporated into the case file.
“After recovering those empty bullet cases and the live round on the 13th of September 2023, did anything happen on the same day?” DPP Yusuf asked.
“Yes, the investigation team, along with the accused (Ousainou Bojang) went to the residence of the accused. Where some items were recovered. Among those recovered items are grey coloured haftan, black jean trousers, and a black jacket,” the witness responded.
Mr. Jatta informed the court that the said items had been later transported to the Criminal Records Office for safekeeping. He mentioned that each of these items had been placed within a brown evidence bag and appropriately labeled.
“Apart from these, was there anything that was recovered during the investigation.? DPP Yusuf asked.
“Yes, on the 14th of September 2023, the following day, the investigation team went back again to the residence of the accused (Ousainou Bojang), and recovered two combat boots or desert boots. The two combat boots, or desert boots, were subsequently also brought to the Criminal Records Office for storage,” Mr. Jatta told the court.
The witness also informed the court about the recovery of the alleged murder weapon.
“On the 22nd of September 2023, we received information that the murder weapon was found and the presence of the forensic team was needed at the scene. The forensic was requested to go and recover it. Which was done, a team went to the said place. When we recovered the pistol, we brought it to the Criminal Records Office for storage,” he said.
Mr. Jatta stated that following an initial assessment, the pistol underwent further examination by the military. He mentioned that upon its return, it was accompanied by a detailed report.
According to Mr. Jatta’s testimony, the aforementioned report concerning the pistol was then passed on to the prosecution for inclusion in the case documentation. He clarified that the pistol was subsequently stored at the Criminal Records Office.
“Where are the empty bullet cases and the live round?” DPP Yusuf asked Mr. Jatta.
“The empty bullet cases and the live round were at the Criminal Records Office but subsequently handed over to the prosecution team,” Mr. Jatta told the court.
DPP Yusuf inquired if the witness could identify both the empty bullet cases and the live round, to which the witness affirmed. The witness specified that two of the empty bullet cases bore serial number S96, while the third was marked 380 TMC, and the live round shared the S96 serial number.
Mr. Jatta testified that these items were originally packaged separately but later consolidated into a single small brown envelope. Upon being handed over for identification, Mr. Jatta confirmed to the court that these were indeed the three empty bullet cases and live round sent for ballistic examination by the Gambia Army.
The DPP sought to tender these items as evidence, to which the defense raised no objection. Hon. Ebrima Justice Jaiteh of the High Court of the Gambia admitted them as exhibits P22 and P23.
Additionally, DPP Yusuf applied to tender a grey-colored Haftan and black trousers recovered from Ousainou Bojang’s residence. Again, the defense raised no objections, and Justice Jaiteh admitted them as exhibits P24 and P25.
Two pairs of combat or desert boots were also presented to the witness for identification, confirmed to be recovered from the same residence. The defense raised no objection to their admissibility, and Justice Jaiteh marked them as exhibits P26 and P27.
Further, the witness identified a pistol recovered during the investigation, which was admitted into evidence without objection as exhibit P28.
Due to lack of storage facilities in the court, the pistol was handed over to the prosecution until arrangements could be made. The case was adjourned to May 20th, 2024, for continuation.