By: Isatou Sarr
A police officer has told a Brikama Magistrates’ Court that he took photographs before, during, and after the postmortem examination of the late Omar Badjie, whose death is the subject of an ongoing coronial inquest.
Detective Corporal Babou Mbye of the Crime Record Office and Scientific Support Unit of the Gambia Police Force appeared as the 10th prosecution witness before Principal Magistrate Anna O. Mendy.
Giving evidence, Detective Corporal Mbye said he was assigned on 30 September 2025 by his superior, Superintendent Francis Jatta, to attend the postmortem examination of the late Omar Badjie at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul.
He told the court that he went to the hospital with Assistant Superintendent of Police Malang Badjie and Corporal Edrisa Jarju, now a sergeant. Upon arrival at the mortuary, they waited for family members to identify the body before proceeding to the postmortem room.
According to the witness, those present during the examination included Lawyer Njie, Dr Daffeh, Dr Leigh, who conducted the postmortem, and Dr Leigh’s assistant, Buba Tamba.
Detective Corporal Mbye testified that his role was to take photographic evidence. He said he took pictures of the body before the postmortem began, during the examination, and after its completion, adding that he photographed specific parts of the body whenever instructed by the doctors.
He further informed the court that he later returned to his office and subsequently tendered 11 photographs taken during the postmortem. The photographs were admitted into evidence and marked as exhibits.
The inquest relates to the death of Omar Badjie, a 27-year-old resident of Mandinary, who died in September 2025 following an encounter with police officers. Police had earlier said Badjie collapsed while being pursued during a patrol, but witnesses have alleged he was assaulted after being arrested.
The matter was adjourned to 19 January 2026 for continuation of the inquest.
