Ruling in Nine Cocaine Trial Deferred

By Baba Sillah

The Banjul Magistrates’ Court presided over by Principal Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea on Friday 5th November 2010 adjourned the cocaine trial involving nine foreign nationals for ruling due to the state’s failure to abide by court order to file their briefs for ruling which was supposed to be done on Friday.

Both parties after closing their case in the voir dire (trial within a trial} agreed to file their written briefs for adoption and ruling.

Though the defense counsel, Lamin S. Camara has allready filed his brief since November 1st, the, state counsel, M. Abdullah did not file his brief until Friday when he informed the court that he served the court that very morning {Friday} and he is ready to serve the defense.

L S.Camara opposed it on the grounds that the document is voluminous and he needed time to go through it so as to make his reply.

Mean while, after listening to both parties, the presiding magistrate adjourned the case to 11th November 2010 for adoption of their briefs at 2:30pm.

While ruling is set for Friday 12th November 2010 at 12 pm.

Readers would recalled that the accused persons are charged on ten counts ranging from conspiracy to trafficking cocaine, possession of it, possession and importation of fire arms earlier this year at a warehouse in Bonto village West Coast Region(WCR).

So far three witnesses have testified in the main trial including the Alkalo of Bonto Village, Momodou Lamin Kebbeh {PW1}. However, all the accused persons denied the allegation.