CORONER'S INQUEST ON THE DEATH OF 12 PERSONS STARTS
On Monday, 24 April 2000, barely two weeks after the events of 10 April
2000, the inquest on the death of 12 persons has started in earnest before
the Coroner at the High Court in Banjul. The Coroner is Mr Ousman Jammeh and
he sits at Court Room No. 1 at the High Court. The 12 victims concerned are:
Abdoulie Sanyang; Momodou Lamin Njie; Unidentified Deceased Persons;
Baboucarr Badjie; Calisco Priera; Karamo Barrow; Reginald Carrol; Omar
Barrow; Wuyeh Mansally; Muhammed Lamin Chune; Lamin A. Bojang; Ousman
Sabally.
PROCEEDING OF 24 APRIL 2000
In his opening statement, the Coroner said that his role was to inquire into
the causes of the deaths of the 12 victims.
Eleven witnesses who identified the bodies of the victims at the mortuary
testified on 24 April.
TESTIMONY OF KEBBA SANYANG
Kebba Sanyang, father of Abdoulie Sanyang, told the Coroner that he lives in
Old Jeshwang; that Abdoulie Sanyang (deceased) was his son; that he was
three years old and was living with him at his home; that Abdoulie met his
death outside his compound at Old Jeshwang between 9 a.m. and 12 noon.
He said his compound has two gates; that he was standing at one of them with
the late Abdoulie; that upon observation of the students/paramilitary
movement he told him to get into the compound; that although he got in he
got out through the other gate where other members of the compound, men,
women and children were standing; that as the movement of the paramilitary
and the students drew near, the crowd rushed and the deceased, Abdoulie,
fell, got up and fell, got up and fell again.
He said he died instantly; that he was picked up and taken to the RVH by a
neighbour, Abdoulie Kujabi; that he received the body on 12 April and buried
him the same day.
TESTIMONY OF BABA NJIE
Baba Njie, uncle of Lamin Njie, lives in Brikama; that he is a farmer; that
he was the uncle and the guardian of the late Lamin Njie; that Lamin was
attending GTTI and residing at Ebo Town; that he died on 10 April during
events of 10 April; that on Thursday, 13 April he identified the body at the
mortuary at RVH; that the body was laid to rest at Bulock on Friday, 14
April 2000.
TESTIMONY OF SANG PIERRE MENDY
Sang Pierre Mendy, in his testimony, said that he is a security officer and
lives at New Jeshwang; that he knew Calisco Priera; that they are not
related but that the mother lives in his compound; that he together with the
sister of Calisco's mother identified Calisco's body at the mortuary at RVH;
that he does not know the age and nationality of the deceased; that Calisco'
s mother is called Marie Therese Sonko.
TESTIMONY OF MARIE THERESE SONKO
Marie Therese Sonko, Calisco's mother, later confirmed that the deceased was
her son who was born in 1982; that because he suffered from polio for the
first three years he started school late; that he was a student at St.
Charles Luwanga but could not go to school this year because he had not paid
his fees. She said that the body had been laid to rest.
TESTIMONY OF MAFUGY BADGIE
Mafugy Badjie, uncle of Burama Badgie, told the Coroner that he was the
uncle of the deceased; that the father, Bubacarr Badgie was very sick; that
Bunama was 10 years and was attending Tallinding Primary School; that he
died on Monday, 10 April; that they learnt of the death on Wednesday, 12
April; that he identified the body in Banjul and when they got the body they
buried him on the same day.
TESTIMONY OF MUSA COKER, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE GAMBIA RED CROSS SOCIETY ON
OMAR BARROW
Mr Coker said that he lives at Kanifing Housing Estate and was a nurse by
profession. He said further that he knew the late Omar Barrow as a volunteer
of the Red Cross Movement; that he does not know his age but he knew that he
was married with a family.
He told the Coroner that he saw Omar at the Red Cross helping the wounded
and that while in his office he heard gun shots in the street and people
running from the Mobile Police Station end to the Red Cross; that he
suddenly heard a loud cry in Wollof "they have shot Omar"; that on coming
out he found Omar lying on his back outside the office block surrounded by
volunteers inside the camp; that he was later moved to the corridor of the
office then to the RVH in Banjul.
He said he had identified the body on 12 April and was buried on the same
day.
TESTIMONY OF BASSIROU BARROW
Bassirou Barrow, father of Karamo Barrow, said he is a fitter and lives in
Ebo Town; that the late Karamo was going to ICE High School and was born in
1976. He said Karamo was his first son; that he last saw Karamo in the
morning of 10 April 2000; that he learnt of the death later in the day; that
at about 2 p.m. on 11 April they identified the body; that on 12 April, the
body was handed over to them and was buried on the same day.
TESTIMONY OF JOSEPH B. CARROL
Mr Joseph B. Carrol, father of Reginald Carrol, told the Coroner that he was
living at Latrikunda Yiriyanga; that Reginald was doing computer studies at
FBI at Old Jeshwang; that he was his son; that he left for Banjul on 10
April in the morning to cash a cheque; that he was later called by his wife
who told him that Reginald had not returned home and his whereabouts was not
known; that he said he had asked her to come and meet him in Banjul so that
they can check at the RVH, where they later got the information of his
death; that they were informed that he died during the students riot; that
on Tuesday he was informed by the surgeon that his child died of gunshot
wounds; that after receiving the body he discovered wounds and that he was
finally buried on 17 April 2000.
TESTIMONY OF SAINEY GINGALLY
The seventh person to give evidence was the grandfather of Wuyeh Mansally,
Sainey Gingally, who claimed that he received the body on Wednesday, 12
April 2000 and took to Casamance where he was buried.
Sainey Gingally claimed that Wuyeh was born in Senegal and had only come
here to study Arabic at the Tallinding Islamic Institute; that Wuyeh was
born in 1980.
TESTIMONY OF MBYE CHUNE
The eight witness was one Mbye Chune, the father of the late Momodou Lamin
Chune; he said that M.L. Chune was his first born and was 15 years old; that
he was attending Latrikunda Junior Secondary School; that he got information
of the death of his son from his fellow students that he had been shot at
their school gate; that after two days search for the body they discovered
him at the mortuary of the RVH and received the body on 12 April 2000 and
buried the same day at 5 p.m.
TESTIMONY OF ABDOULIE BOJANG
Mr Abdoulie Bojang of Tallinding gave testimony that he is the father of
Lamin Abdoulie Bojang of Nusrat Senior Secondary School who is now deceased;
that he is his first son and child; that he was found to be killed on Monday
10 April, 2000.
He said that he went on a trek to Basse on the preceding Saturday; that he
learnt about the students incident and returned on that Monday; that he
arrived in the evening and having learnt about his son not being seen home
since after he went to school in the morning, he rushed to one Lamin Jarjue,
his son's classmate to enquire; that he was told that they were together in
school for their exams but were later dispersed when some other students
stormed their school and they then headed towards Serrekunda through the
Brikama Highway and during which commotion they lost each other in the
crowd.
Mr Bojang continued that upon hearing this he decided to proceed with his
wife to the RVH in Banjul but first passed through the police station to
check whether he was detained, but he was not there; that at the RVH he was
shown a list of patients but the name of his son was not there; that it was
there that he was informed about the death of his son; that he requested to
see the body but was denied access; that he managed to see the body of his
son who was shot at the back of his head on 11 April 2000; that there were
also bruises on the face which might have been sustained when he fell down;
that they were there up to 4.30 p.m. but were not allowed to collect the
body; that it was on Wednesday, 12 April at around 12.30 p.m; that they
were given the body which was later taken and buried in Jamburr the same
day.
He indicated that he saw the body after an autopsy was already performed on
it.
PROCEEDING OF 25 APRIL 2000
TESTIMONY OF MR ALPHA BAH
The next witness to testify on Tuesday, 25 April 2000 was Mr Alpha Bah,
guardian of the late Ousman Sabally of Kerewan Samba Sireh in the CRD.
Mr Bah stated that Ousman Sabally was his ward and nephew; that he died at
Bansang Hospital as a result of the students incident in Brikamaba where he
was attending school; that he was shot and rushed to Bansang Hospital by him
and other relatives; that this incident occurred on Tuesday, 11 April 2000;
that he was 15 years old; that they received the body on the following day
Wednesday for burial; that he was since buried; that he was in grade 8; that
he saw the body as he was bleeding profusely on both the chest and the back;
that he was in school uniform.
TESTIMONY OF MUSTAPHA KUJABIE
He told the Coroner that he lives in Old Jeshwang and his occupation is
masonry; that Kebba Sanyang is his neighbour and that Abdoulie Sanyang is
Kebba Sanyang's son; that he is an infant; that on 10 April 2000, he heard
some gun shots and came out of his compound and saw people running; that he
saw the police dispersing the students and went back into his compound; that
forty five minutes later, a woman came to him to seek assistance; that when
he went he saw the deceased; that he took him to the Royal Victoria
Hospital; that the hospital staff confirmed that the child was dead.
TESTIMONY OF INSPECTOR JOBE
Inspector Biran Jobe told the Coroner that he is part of the Serious Crime
Squad; that on 10 April 2000 he was at GTTI where there was a students'
demonstration; that he returned to the police headquarters at about 11.00
and was assigned to the RVH to look after victims involved in the students'
demonstration; that on the morning of 11 April, 2000, he went to the
mortuary where he found some corpses and he had cause to prepare some forms
to enable autopsy to be done on the bodies before burial; that at that time
not all bodies had been identified; that after the authorisation the said
forms were handed over to the pathologist; that they had 11 bodies that day;
that all the bodies were later identified except one which is yet to be
identified; that the number given to that deceased was PM 44/2000; that he
is a male; that it was difficult to identify where he was found; that no
information is available as to who escorted him to the hospital; that the
Criminal Records Office of the Police Headquarters took photographs of all
the bodies in the mortuary.
At this point, he applied to tender six photographs together with their
negatives of the unidentified body. They were admitted and marked
A,B,C,D,E,F,
He went on to say that they issued notices at the public notices at police
stations but up to now no one has come forward; that he had to go back to
the Coroner to obtain authority to dispose of the unidentified body; that it
has now been laid to rest at the Old Jeshwang cemetery.
At this stage, at the request of the Coroner, he tendered the photographs of
the other eleven bodies.
He said that apart the autopsies were carried out by Dr Omar Sam and Dr
Sorhegui Rafael.
CROSS EXAMINATION
After examination by counsel, Abdoulie Bojang, father of Lamin Bojang, cross
examined Inspector Jobe. He asked Inspector Jobe why he failed to ask him to
witness the autopsy of his son. In response, Mr Jobe said that this was the
first time he was assigned such a task; that it was the relatives who
requested to witness the autopsy.
TESTIMONY OF DR SORHEGUI RAFAEL
He told the Coroner that he is from Cuba; that he is a pathologist at the
RVH and has been there for 10 months; that he has been a pathologist since
1976; that he received a request from the police for an autopsy on 11 April
2000; that the request forms bore the names of the deceased persons.
He was asked to read out the names and he read out the following names:
Abdoulie Sanyang; Burama Badgie and Wuyeh Mansally. Upon request he tendered
the forms in evidence.
He said further that he performed autopsies on the bodies of these deceased
persons on 11 April 2000 and that he was assisted by Dr Sam, the pathologist
in charge.
He then proceeded to inform the Coroner about his findings:
1. ABDOULIE SANYANG: In the external examination there was no damage or
wound and no evidence of chronic disease.
Internal examination: He indicated injuries and swellings in the left lungs.
As to the cause of death, Dr Rafael indicated that the left pulmonary vein
crushed; that it could have been pressed physically.
2. BURAMA BADGIE: Examination revealed that the deceased sustained gun shot
wounds from the back causing loss of blood and damage to the lungs.
The doctor proceeded to say that the cause of death was massive haemorrhage;
that two wounds were visible: entry point at the right upper chest and at
the back.
The counsel asked the doctor to tell the court whether the entry point of
20mm and exit of 30mm is due to a live bullet or a blank bullet. In
response, he said it was due to a live bullet; that it cannot be sutured;
that in the cause of examination he did not come across any bullet in the
body because of the speed.
Asked whether he had any experience to have an idea as to the type of bullet
used, he answered in the negative.
3. WUYEH MANSALLY: Dr Rafael told the inquest that Wuyeh Mansally was aged
19 years; that he had sustained a wound on the right side of his neck of
length 25mm; that the wound penetrated the left jaw causing the jaw to
fracture around the exit; that as a result of the force of the bullet moving
at high speed the tongue was cut at the main joint around the gullet.
Dr Rafael went on to indicate that as a result of this there was serious
bleeding which led to Mansally's immediate death. When asked if the wound
was caused by a live bullet, he answered in the positive. Asked further
whether the bullet was fired at close range, he said that it can be
estimated to have been fired from a range of about 13 metres. He was also
asked why the exit of the wound was larger than the penetration, he said
that it was due to the high velocity at which the bullet was travelling;
that this forced small particles of bones around the fractured area of the
jaw to go out with the bullet.
He was also asked if the other parts of the body were affected and he
answered in the negative. He was asked if a rubber bullet can cause a
penetrating wound, he answered in the positive but noted that it cannot have
the same impact as a live bullet.
PROCEEDING OF 26 APRIL 2000
Testimony of Dr Omar Sam
Dr Sam told the court that he lives at Kotu and is a pathologist at the RVH;
that on 1 April he conducted 8 autopsies and another one on 22 April
relating to Ousman Sabally at Kerewan Samba Sireh, CRD; that this was as a
result of the request from the Coroner; that all the autopsies were related
to the incident of 10 April; that they were all conducted at the RVH except
one which was conducted at Kerewan Samba Sireh, CRD; that he was assisted by
mortuary assistants at the RVH; that not all bodies have been identified;
that there is still one body which is not yet identified.
He told the Coroner that he conducted autopsy on Momodou Lamin Njie; Calisco
Priera; Karamo Barrow; Reginald Carrol; Omar Barrow; Momodou Lamin Chune;
Lamin A. Bojang and Ousman Sabally.
He performed the following tests on the deceased persons: X-rays, blood
test, urine test, external examination, systematic internal examination and
special test. He told the Coroner that he undertook all four stages.
Upon the request of the Coroner, he went on to explain his findings as
follows:
1. MOMODOU LAMIN NJIE: X-Ray showed fracture of the right ribs. External
examination showed that he was 145 centimetres tall.
First wound: Collar bone. Second wound: Ribs
Amputation of the left pulmonary artillery (Internal Examination).
He attributed the cause of death to massive haemorrhage from the perforating
wounds of the left lung, injury to the aorta from a gun shot and penetration
through two rib cages.
He said further that from experience these wounds can only be caused by gun
shots; that it is only a modern weapon that can cause this and that the
extent of tissue damage including dislodged fractures can only be caused by
a high velocity weapon.
Asked whether there is any basic difference between rubber bullets and live
bullets, he said that rubber bullets cause minimal abrasion; that live
bullets damage soft tissues. He said further that in this case, it was only
a high power and high velocity live bullet which caused the multiple wounds.
QUESTION: So, the cause of death is a live bullet?
ANSWER: Yes.
CROSS EXAMINATION
Kitimo Njie, under of M.L. Njie, asked why parents were not allowed to see
the bodies before autopsy. In response, Dr Sam said that this was a forensic
postmortem requested by the Inspector General of Police, with the
authorisation of the Coroner and not a medical postmortem for which they
would have been directly responsible.
2. CALISCO PRIERA: According to Dr Sam, his body shows fractures at the cage
rib at the back. External examination shows that he was a male teenager;
that two external wounds were evident. One at the region of the cage rib at
the back and the other at the front rib.
Cause of death was rupture of heart and massive haemorrhage due to gun shot
wounds in the thorax.
Calisco's mother, Mrs Ann Marie Therese Ndey Sonko asked whether it was a
live bullet that killed her son. The Coroner indicated that this was the
conclusion of the doctor was.
3. KARAMO BARROW: According to Dr Sam, Karamo, the X-Ray showed fractured
rib; that two fresh wounds were identified on the chest.
Cause of death: Penetrating chest wound with perforation of right lung and
massive haemorrhage due to gun shots.
Asked by the Coroner why are bullets are not lodged in the body, Dr Sam said
it was because of the high velocity of the bullets, but that there is a case
of a lodged bullet.
Bassirou Barrow, father of the deceased said he wanted to know whether a
live bullet or a rubber bullet killed his son. In response, the pathologist
said that the features he had seen are characteristics of live bullets.
4. REGINALD CARROL: Dr Sam told the Coroner that the X-Ray was
unfortunately poor; that he identified two wounds on the chest - one on the
right mid chest and the other at the left lower chest.
Cause of death: Massive haemorrhage from perforating wounds of right lung,
heart, liver and stomach as a result of gun shot wounds.
The Coroner enquired about wounding agents. Dr Sam said that the wounding
agent is a high velocity single bullet; that the entry was from back to the
front.
He also indicated that some aspect of bleeding was controlled through
earlier surgery.
The Coroner asked whether it would have been possible to save his life. Dr
Sam said that the facilities are not available at the RVH.
He finally indicated that the characteristics are the result of live
bullets.
5. OMAR BARROW: Dr Sam said that the X-Ray was difficult to print, but that
it did not affect the examination; that four wounds were found on him - two
on the right upper arm and two on the chest.
Cause of death: Massive haemorrhage from injury of heart, lung and major
blood vessels in the right arm and chest.
The Coroner asked what the cause of the fatal injury is. Dr Sam said that
the entry is the cause of a live bullet.
At this point there was a 45 minute recess. After the recess, Dr Sam
continued to give evidence.
6. MOMODOU LAMIN CHUNE: Dr Sam disclosed that Momodou Lamin Chune had a
wound on the chest which he identified. He indicated that there was a tear
in the right artery.
The doctor showed the bullet from the body of the deceased which was
tendered as exhibit. He further indicated that the penetration of the bullet
measured 20-25 mm.
7. LAMIN A. BOJANG: Dr Sam said he could identify a grazing of 55mm in the
skull of Lamin Bojang; that there was a fracture in his skull which measures
320 x 120mm.
Mr Abdoulie Bojang, father of the deceased asked the doctor whether there
was any attempt for a surgical operation on his son. Dr Sam said that he was
not aware since the death of Lamin was a sudden one.
8. OUSMAN SABALLY: Dr Sam said two wounds were identified in the chest - on
the right 70mm and the other side 65mm in the chest cavity. He further said
that there was a tear in the right diaphragm.
Dr Sam then told the Coroner that the last case to deal with is the corpse
that had not been identified.
The inquest was then adjourned.
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