A Gambian judge has allowed police statements from a murder suspect to enter evidence after determining they were obtained without force or intimidation. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh accepted testimony from Arona Tine during proceedings at Banjul High Court following a preliminary hearing that examined whether authorities violated proper procedures when collecting the documents dated January 22, 2024.
Defense attorneys had challenged admissibility by asserting their client faced threats during questioning and lacked neutral oversight while providing answers to investigators. Prosecutors countered by presenting testimony from recording officer Landing Jallow and neutral observer Ebrima Janneh, who described conditions under which Tine spoke with authorities about allegations he had fatally stabbed Fatoumatta Kargbo at her workplace in Westfield three days earlier. The victim worked at HM Bureau de Change.
The judge determined on Wednesday that evidence rules and judicial guidelines were properly followed during the interview process. He found no support for claims of coercion and noted that witness accounts confirmed voluntary participation. The statements will proceed as prosecution exhibits P8 and P9 as the case moves forward against Tine, who maintains his innocence regarding the January 19, 2024, killing charge.
Defense attorneys had challenged admissibility by asserting their client faced threats during questioning and lacked neutral oversight while providing answers to investigators. Prosecutors countered by presenting testimony from recording officer Landing Jallow and neutral observer Ebrima Janneh, who described conditions under which Tine spoke with authorities about allegations he had fatally stabbed Fatoumatta Kargbo at her workplace in Westfield three days earlier. The victim worked at HM Bureau de Change.
The judge determined on Wednesday that evidence rules and judicial guidelines were properly followed during the interview process. He found no support for claims of coercion and noted that witness accounts confirmed voluntary participation. The statements will proceed as prosecution exhibits P8 and P9 as the case moves forward against Tine, who maintains his innocence regarding the January 19, 2024, killing charge.
