Trial of Alleged Murderer of British Woman Begins, Police Investigator Testified

By Landing Ceesay 

The trial of Augustine Bangura, accused of the murder of British national Sakina Chinedu in the Gambia, has commenced in front of Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court of the Gambia.

Augustine Bangura stands accused of murder and theft under sections 187 and 252 of the Criminal Code Revised Laws of the Gambia 2009.

According to the Prosecution, on February 14, 2024, in Sinchang Village, West Coast Region of the Gambia, Augustine Bangura allegedly caused the death of Shakina Chinedu by striking her with a hammer at the back of her neck, resulting in her demise, thus committing a criminal act.

Furthermore, it is alleged by the Prosecution that on the same date and at the same location, Augustine Bangura unlawfully appropriated items belonging to Shakina Chinedu, including D80,000.00, 2 laptops, a tablet, flash drives, keys, a Canon camera, bank and correspondence cards, from her bag and apartment, thereby committing another offense.

Bangura pleaded not guilty to the charges on April 25, 2024.

On Tuesday, Mr. Amadou Badjie, a Police officer from the Serious Crime division of Tujereng Police Station, took the stand as the First Prosecution Witness (PW1). He commenced his testimony by detailing the actions he has undertaken since the case was reported to his office.

Mr. Badjie informed the court of his 17-year tenure within the Police force, stationed at Tujereng Police Station. He further stated that he identified the accused, Augustine Bangura, at the Brikama Police Station.

Following Mr. Badjie’s testimony, State Counsel Fatoumatta Drammeh inquired if the Police Investigator remembered the events of February 15, 2024. The Investigator confirmed this and proceeded to elucidate the court on the sequence of events.

“On the 15th of February, I was on duty at Tujereng Police Station at 18:00 hours. We received a complaint from one British lady that her friend Shakina (deceased) was missing. They were trying to call her phones but all her phones were off. Then the matter was booked in the station diary and I further asked them whether they may suspect where the deceased would be at the time. 

“They told me that the deceased has an office in Brusubi, and where they suspected she would or at her compound in a village called Madina Alhaji Gaye. So I left the charge office with them to the said property. Upon our arrival, all the gates to the compound were locked up. Then I went to the neighbours and borrowed a ladder that I used and jumped inside the compound. I found the deceased private vehicle parked beside the garage and all the doors of the vehicle were locked,” the Police Investigator told the court. 

The Police Investigator stated that he conducted an initial search of the compound but found nothing at that moment.

Mr. Badjie recounted that he advised the British Lady who had alerted the authorities to go back home and come to the station the next day, which was February 16, 2024.

The Police Investigator further mentioned that the British Lady returned to the station the next day accompanied by three others. They informed the police that Shakina Chinedu had been missing for 24 hours.

“When you got to the compound of the deceased, how high was the fence?” Counsel Drammeh asked. 

“It was three (3) metres high, and there was wire goes,” a Police Investigator responded. 

During testimony, the Police Investigator stated that Shakina Chinedu’s compound featured two gates: one small and one large. Furthermore, they informed the court that both gates were closed during their visit.

“The big one was locked inside with 3 padlocks and the small one was locked with a key,” he said. 

“Do you recall the marks of the padlocks?” Counsel Drammeh asked. 

“I can’t recall them,” The Police Investigator responded. 

“You said when you got to the compound, you did a primary Search, what does this mean?” Counsel Drammeh asked the Police Investigator. 

“The primary search entails whether I will find anything that belongs to the deceased. While on the search of the property, I was communicating with the deceased daughter, who was in the UK. She told me to look into the car and if the car tape is inside the vehicle then her mother is not alive. Because she always removes the car tape when she goes inside the house,” Police Investigator told the court. 

Hon. Justice Jaiteh then adjourned the case on the 13th of May 2024 for continuation.