Africa-Press – Gambia. The Banjul High Court on Tuesday continued the murder trial of former Jungler Sanna Manjang with Police Investigator Samba J. Sowe giving detailed testimony before Justice S.K. Jobarteh.
Manjang, represented by Counsel S.K. Jobe, faces two counts of murder: one for allegedly killing Kajali Jammeh in 2006 at Kanilai by cutting his neck with a knife, and the other for allegedly stabbing Samba Wurry Jallow in the chest. Counsel A.R. Dougan appeared for the State.
Sowe, a resident of Brikama attached to Kairaba Police Station, told the court that in November 2025, his supervisor, DSP Demba Bah, assigned him to a panel investigating the killings of Kajali Jammeh, Samba Wurry Jallow and Baye Dam.
He said his role involved taking cautionary and voluntary statements from the accused at Mile 2 Central Prison on 8 January 2026, in the presence of an independent witness. These statements were confirmed in court and entered as exhibits.
The witness recounted that on 17 January 2026, the panel, including Essa Keita, visited Kanilai to inspect the alleged crime scene. He described observing a two-room building with a parlor, identified by Keita as a detention center, and noted a tap that had been moved from its original position. Photographs were taken by fellow investigators. Sowe said the accused was alleged to have killed Kajali Jammeh with a long knife and stabbed Samba Wurry Jallow, according to information provided by Keita.
During cross-examination, Sowe admitted that he had not personally verified Keita’s account, nor had he interacted with any guards or residents at Kanilai. He acknowledged that he had never met the victims or their families, nor had he seen their bodies or graves. Sowe added that he knew his fellow panelists only by rank, not by name, and that the investigation report was signed solely by DSP Senghore.
He maintained that his role was limited to taking statements from the accused and observing the crime scene, denying any direct communication with the accused during the Kanilai visit. He confirmed a division of labour existed among the investigation team.
The defense questioned the accuracy of Keita’s identification of the detention center and the arrangement of the premises, but Sowe insisted he reported only what he observed and what was relayed by Keita.
Following Sowe’s testimony, the prosecution indicated it would call a third witness. The High Court adjourned the case to 10 March 2026 at 12:00 noon for the hearing of PW3.
