A 16-year-old lad who allegedly killed another teenager with a pair of scissors has been freed by a local magistrate due to the incompetence of the Gambia’s Police Force.
The teenager who has not been named allegedly plunged a pair of scissors on the head of Ebrima Saho in October 2019 in Brufut Village, Kombo North, which resulted in his death.
He was arrested and charged with murder and remanded in prison.
However, since he was indicted last December, police prosecutors have failed to diligently prosecute the case.
According to Magistrate Muhammed Krubally of the Brikama court, the case has suffered so many adjournments at the request of police prosecutors for one reason or the other.
He said he cannot continue to allow the accuse to languish in detention for eternity.
“There is public expectation that there should be an end to litigation,” he said. “And since the alleged offender is presumed innocent until proven guilty, this court has no option but to strike out this matter and discharge the alleged child offender.”
