By Isatou Sarr
The defence team of Ousainou Bojang on Wednesday urged the High Court to acquit him, disputing the state’s evidence in the 2023 Sukuta-Jabang Traffic Lights shooting case.
Lead counsel Lamin J. Darboe submitted a final brief arguing that the prosecution relied on “bad faith,” unreliable witnesses, and lacked forensic evidence. Bojang faces five charges, including the murder of Police Constables Sang J. Gomez and Pateh Jallow, the attempted murder of Ansey Jawo, and acts of terrorism.
The defence presented an alibi supported by digital call logs and eyewitness testimony placing Bojang elsewhere at the time of the shooting. It challenged the accounts of two soldier witnesses, Ismaila Bojang and Bakary R. Jarjue, noting inconsistencies with call logs (Exhibit D13) that placed them in New Yundum, contrary to their claim of returning from beach training.
Darboe also questioned the plausibility of the soldiers’ report that they pursued the shooter over 400 meters and secured the scene in 11–12 minutes, describing the suspect as having “bow legs,” a detail not corroborated by other evidence.
The defence criticised the testimony of businesswoman and marabout Mama Jabbie, who claimed Bojang confessed to her in Senegal. Darboe described her account as “false and unsubstantiated,” noting the alleged recording of the confession was lost and suggesting her statements could have been influenced by a D1 million reward publicly offered by the President.
Police Constable Ansey Jawo, the only surviving victim, reportedly admitted in court that she could not identify Bojang as her attacker, recognizing him only from social media photographs after his arrest, the defence said.
Highlighting gaps in the State’s case, Darboe said no DNA, fingerprint, or ballistic evidence linked Bojang to the scene or the alleged murder weapon. A gun reportedly found by watchman Lamin Fofana was dismantled, raising further doubts.
Bojang testified that he was at a lodge in Brufut or Bojang Kunda during the shooting and travelled to Senegal for spiritual protection after threats from a woman attempting to release intimate videos. WhatsApp logs (Exhibit D38) and witnesses Sulayman Faal and Famara Bojang supported his account, making it “physically impossible” for him to have been at the scene, the defence said.
Darboe accused the State of conducting a “trial by media,” citing government officials who publicly labelled Bojang a “rebel” and “UDP member” days after his arrest. He noted that claims of CCTV footage were never produced in court and that Bojang’s alleged cautionary statements were obtained under duress.
The defence urged the court to disregard the “sensationalisation” of the case and the inconsistencies in the prosecution’s witnesses, maintaining that the State had failed to prove its case “beyond a reasonable doubt,” and called for Bojang’s acquittal and discharge.