By a Staff reporter
After weeks of prolonged argument and citation, the High Court in Banjul yesterday dismissed the defence motion on a stay of execution in the alleged rape trial involving Baboucarr Keita alias Bob Keita.
The presiding judge, Justice Momodou Jallow , however, urged the State also to expedite the second DNA test on the late Muhammad, a child at the heart of the trial who mysteriously died a fortnight ago.
A defence lawyer representing Baboucarr Keita, barrister Lamin LS Camara on the 18th July filed a motion before the court urging the court to disregard the motion dated 7th July filed by the State Prosecutors for a DNA test on the late baby Muhammad. The defence team led by lawyer Camara further filed an injunction before The Gambia court of appeal seeking a stay of execution pending the outcome of the appeal before the Court of Appeal.
After going through the arguments and citations made by both the prosecution and the defence, Justice Jallow dismissed the defence motion urging the State to expedite a second DNA test on the late baby Muhammad.
Immediately after handing down his verdict, the defence applied for a copy of the ruling to appeal against the ruling.
The case was adjourned to 5th October 2022 for the continuation of hearings.
The 29-year-old young entrepreneur is being tried on a single charge for raping an underage girl in 2019. Mr Keita however, denied any wrongdoing and since then he has been placed under detention at the State Prison at Mile II.
