A police anti-crime unit member, Mr. Ebou Sowe, testified as the First Prosecution Witness (PW1) in the Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights murder trial. PW1 informed the court that Ousainou Bojang was in good health at the time of obtaining his statement. This marked the beginning of the voir dire, or trial within a trial.

First prosecution witness (PW1) in the Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights murder case, Mr. Ebou Sowe of the Police Anti-Crime Unit, took the stand to begin the voir dire, a trial inside a trial. When Ousainou Bojang gave his testimony, Sowe told the court he was in good health.
Counsel Lamin J. Darboe, who is representing Ousainou Bojang, the person suspected of killing two Police Intervention Unit (PIU) officers, started the trial inside a trial. Darboe expressed worries that his client was subjected to coercion, including drugging and physical assault, in order to collect statements.

Testifying as PW1, Mr. Sowe recounted the events of September 13, 2023, when Ousainou Bojang was taken to the Police Anti-Crime Unit as the main suspect in the shooting incident at the Sukuta Jabang traffic signals. His testimony was given at the voir dire. Two male police officers were killed in this event, while one female officer was seriously injured.
Mr. Sowe informed the court that Ousainou Bojang was brought to the Police Anti Crime Unit as the main suspect in connection with the shooting incident that happened at the Sukuta Jabang traffic lights and resulted in the deaths of two male police officers and the critically ill survival of a female police officer.

Mr. Sowe remembered that on September 14, 2023, Bojang was in his second day of incarceration at the Police Anti-Crime Unit. This was in response to questions about the events of September 14, 15, and 23, 2023. Bojang was the subject of inquiries into the shooting event.
Sowe clarified that Bojang admitted to being the cause of the event during questioning and provided information about the crime site and his escape route, which resulted in the arrest of the second accused (Amie Bojang). Due of the late hour, Sowe claimed to have gotten a 23-hour cautionary statement from Ousainou Bojang without the presence of an impartial witness.

As a result, the panel questioned Ousainou Bojang, who later admitted to being the cause of the gunshot event that prompted the crime scene inquiry. further to his means of escape after murdering those police officers. The day was unusually long since the second accused, Ami Bojang, was arrested as a result of his confession. After around twenty-three excellent hours, I got a warning from him.

Because it was late at night, there was no independent witness this time. I read Ousainou Bojang the warnings before drafting the statement, telling him not to say anything unless he wants to and that whatever he says might be recorded and used as evidence. Despite the fact that he acknowledged having comprehended in English since he is literate, this was translated to him in Wolof, Mr. Sowe informed the court.

Although Sowe claimed to have advised Bojang of his right to compose his own statement, Sojang insisted on having Sowe do it.
Sowe claims that Bojang read his statement out in Wolof, despite the fact that it was written in English. Bojang verified its correctness, read it, and offered his thumbprint after translating it back to Wolof. Sowe provided his information to support the statement, and the procedure took place at the Banjulinding Police Anti-Crime Unit.

Thus, I wrote in English, and he (Ousainou Bojang) recounted his comments in Wolof. After I translated this into Wolof, he verified that it was accurate. I handed him the identical statement to read on equal terms. After reading the statement, he verified its accuracy. As a result, he thumb printed, and I approve the statement with my information, including my name,” Mr. Sowe informed the judge.
In response to a question on Ousainou Bojang’s health posed by Director of Public Prosecution AM Yusuf, Sowe confirmed that Bojang was in good health and had not had any complaints at the time of the statement recording.

The Director of Public Prosecution, AM Yusuf, questioned, “What was the general condition of the first accused (Ousainou Bojang) at the time of recording his statement?”

Mr. Sowe informed the court that Ousainou Bojang “was in sound health, with no complaints.”

In reference to the admissions contained in the voluntary statements that Bojang provided, Attorney LJ Darboe objected to the accusations that his client both rejected and accepted. Darboe brought out inconsistencies in which Bojang acknowledged some accusations while refuting others.He said, “There are documents on the same charge where he said he did not agree, but there are also documents where he said he agreed.”

The High Court of the Gambia’s Justice Ebrima Jaiteh postponed the proceedings until February 5, 2024, so they might continue later.