Brufut Murder: High Court Sentences Ismaila Janneh to Death for Fatal Stabbing of Alieu Jallow

Written by: Mama A. Touray

The Banjul High Court has sentenced Ismaila Janneh to death after finding him guilty of murdering Alieu Jallow, a native of Brufut, in a knife attack in December 2023.

Justice Ebrima Jaiteh convicted Janneh after ruling that prosecutors had proved beyond reasonable doubt that he deliberately stabbed Jallow to death with malice aforethought in Brufut Ghana Town on December 27, 2023.

Janneh, who pleaded not guilty when his trial began on March 18, 2024, denied the charge throughout the proceedings. During the trial, the prosecution called five witnesses and presented documentary and physical evidence, while the defence called only Janneh to testify.

In delivering judgment, Justice Jaiteh said the prosecution had successfully established that Alieu Jallow had died, that his death was caused by Janneh’s actions, and that the killing was intentional.

The judge said the testimony of eyewitnesses was credible and strongly supported by medical evidence from pathologist Dr. Ousman Leigh, who conducted the post-mortem examination and confirmed the cause of death.

“I am satisfied that the death of Alieu Jallow has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt,” Justice Jaiteh said.

He also dismissed arguments raised by the defence, ruling that the failure to recover the murder weapon and a typographical error in the autopsy report did not undermine the prosecution’s case.

“I find that the absence of a recovered knife does not create reasonable doubt. I also find that the typographical error in the autopsy report does not undermine the essential medical findings. The defence account is inconsistent with the nature of the fatal injury and does not raise a reasonable doubt,” he said.

Justice Jaiteh concluded that the prosecution had proved all the essential elements of the offence and formally convicted Janneh of murder.

While passing sentence, the judge explained that because the offence was committed on December 27, 2023, the case had to be decided under the Criminal Code that was in force at the time, which made the death penalty mandatory for murder convictions.

He noted that the newer Criminal Offences Act, 2025, which replaced the death penalty with life imprisonment for murder, could not be applied retrospectively.

Justice Jaiteh therefore sentenced Janneh to death and informed him of his right to appeal both the conviction and the sentence.