By Cecilia E L Mendy
The Banjul High Court, presided over by Justice Ebrima Jaiteh, has convicted Yugo Sowe on five counts related to a violent attack on his wife, Amie Sowe, who was attacked with a cutlass in Brikama Jalambang in November 2023 by Yugo Sowe, her husband. The ruling, delivered on Monday, 22nd June 2026, affirmed that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Prosecution M. Sarr State Counsel represented the victim, while Khadijatou A Muhammad defended the accused. The charges against Yugo Sowe were outlined in an Amended Information dated 1st March 2024, including violations of the Criminal Code and the Domestic Violence Act, 2013.
The first charge against Sowe was for attempted murder, as defined by section 200 of the Criminal Code, alleging that he intentionally attacked Amie Sowe on 16th November 2023, inflicting severe injuries. The second charge was for grievous harm under section 214; the third for Acts Intended to Cause Grievous Harm under section 212; and the fourth for wounding in violation of section 217. Lastly, he faced domestic violence charges under section 17(2) of the Domestic Violence Act.
Throughout the trial, Yugo Sowe pleaded not guilty. The prosecution called five witnesses, including the victim and one of their children. Amie Sowe testified about the turbulent nature of their 23-year marriage, citing ongoing disputes over land and property, and detailed the attack, identifying her husband as the assailant.
The court noted Amie Sowe’s severe injuries, which permanently restricted her mobility, corroborated by medical evidence. Despite the accused’s denial of the charges, the evidence presented, including the cutlass and bloodstained (haftan) clothing, strongly supported the prosecution’s case.
Justice Jaiteh concluded that the prosecution met the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, citing the credibility of the victim’s testimony and the corroborating evidence.
As a result, Yugo Sowe was convicted on all five counts, receiving a cumulative life sentence for the most serious charges, with additional terms for the other offenses. The sentences for counts one, two, four, and five will run concurrently with the life sentence for count three. The convict was advised of his right to appeal against the decisions.