By Cecilia E.L. Mendy
Yugo Sowe on Monday denied charges of attempted murder when he appeared before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh at the Banjul High Court.
Sowe faces five criminal charges stemming from an incident alleged to have occurred on 16 November 2023 at Jalambang in Brikama, Kombo Central District, West Coast Region.
According to the charge sheet, the accused is alleged to have attempted to cause the death of Amie Sowe by attacking her with a cutlass, inflicting injuries to her legs, arms and other parts of her body.
He is further charged with causing grievous harm contrary to Section 214 of the Criminal Code, acts intended to cause grievous harm under Section 212, wounding under Section 217, and domestic violence contrary to Section 17(2) of the Domestic Violence Act.
State Counsel F. Drammeh represented the prosecution, while Counsel F.C. Anyanwu appeared for the defense.
During cross-examination, the accused, who described himself as a donkey-cart driver, told the court he did not work on the day of the incident due to illness and claimed that he found the complainant already injured upon arrival at her residence.
However, the complainant maintained that Sowe was responsible for the attack and alleged that he assaulted her with a cutlass.
Police later arrested the accused and transferred him to the Anti-Crime Unit. A search of his residence reportedly led to the recovery of a cutlass and a green kaftan, which the prosecution said was identified by the complainant as the garment worn during the alleged attack.
The accused admitted ownership of the kaftan and confirmed he had worn it on the day in question.
Sowe also acknowledged longstanding marital disputes with the complainant, including disagreements over land and livestock. He admitted selling her land and a cow without consent but said he later compensated her with D1,500 despite selling the cow for D7,000.
He denied allegations that he left home at night to attack the complainant or that he concealed the cutlass afterward, and disputed claims regarding bloodstains, saying they resulted from sitting on a sack at the police station.
The case was adjourned to 23 February 2026 for continuation of the hearing.
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