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By Halimatou Ceesay
Justice Kumba Sillah Camara of the Banjul High Court has yesterday 16th July, warned counsel I. Jallow, counsel for the 3rd accused Saikou Omar Jeng that if he came late again she will walk him out of the court.
She made this warning to the counsel after she told both defence and prosecution of her intention to preside over the case during August vacation.
The lead counsel for the prosecution Antouman Gaye said on the side of the prosecution they really need their vacation, adding that they have given lot of attention to the case since inception by hearing it three days a week.
The defence lawyers present also associated themselves with the prosecution’s statement.
The trial judge then asked for the counsel of the 3rd accused I. Jallow who was not present at the court.
The judge then asked for his client Saikou Omar Jeng to stand up. She said the court cannot proceed without Counsel I. Jallow and if he (Counsel) is not serious, the 3rd accused should look for another lawyer or the court will provide him a lawyer to represent him.
Counsel Chime for the 1st accused then stood up and informed the court that I. Jallow just texted him and asked him to urged the court on his behalf to have a 15 minutes stand down because he was stuck in traffic.
The trial judge said that was not an excuse for counsel to ask the court to wait for him.
The lead prosecutor Gaye said that was completely intolerable as that was not the first or second time that Counsel I. Jallow comes late to the court, adding that he will write to the Attorney General to bring it to the attention of the General Legal Counsel.
Counsel Jallow then walked in and try to apologize for coming late but the trial judge don’t let him and told him that the court is not going to accept his attitude of having to wait for him all the time. She said is either he attends the proceedings or his client will get himself another lawyer because she will not let him disrespect her all the time.
She therefore warned him that the next time he came late she will walk him out of the court.