By: Sainabou Sambou
A senior pathologist told the High Court in Banjul on Tuesday that broken pieces of glass were lodged in the neck of murdered student leader Yunusa Mbye, who died from a deep stab wound and massive blood loss, in the ongoing trial of Mamadou Bah.
Dr. Ousman Leigh, the prosecution’s fifth witness, gave graphic details of the postmortem examination during the murder case before Justice S.K. Jobarteh. Mbye, described by supporters as a promising student leader, was allegedly stabbed in the neck with a broken glass bottle during a confrontation in Fajara on 15 June 2026.
Dr. Leigh, who has over 28 years of combined experience at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) and currently works on contract while also serving with AQA Company, conducted the postmortem on 16 June. Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel A. Drammeh, he identified the report by its contents. He described a “very deep stab wound” on the left side of the victim’s neck that severed neck muscles and damaged a major vein supplying blood to the head.
“Foreign materials, including broken pieces of glass, were found embedded in the deceased’s neck,” Dr. Leigh told the court. He concluded that Yunusa Mbye died from massive external hemorrhage caused by the stab wound.
Defense counsel C. Mendy objected to the admission of the postmortem report, arguing that Dr. Leigh was no longer a permanent EFSTH employee. Justice Jobarteh overruled the objection after Drammeh clarified the witness’s ongoing contractual role at the hospital. The report was duly admitted into evidence.
The court also heard from eyewitness Ebrima Ndow, a Fajara businessman and the prosecution’s sixth witness. Ndow testified that he was walking towards the main road when he saw Bah and Mbye sitting under a tree. According to Ndow, Bah demanded that Mbye lower the volume of his Bluetooth speaker. Words were exchanged, after which Bah allegedly smashed a brown glass bottle over Mbye’s head and then stabbed him in the neck with the broken bottle when Mbye picked up a stone in response.
“I saw the accused stab him. Yunusa shouted that he had been stabbed,” Ndow said. The witness recounted using a chair to strike Bah twice to stop the attack before rushing the heavily bleeding victim first to Kanifing General Hospital and then to Ndemban Clinic, where Mbye later died despite medical efforts. Ndow maintained he witnessed the entire incident from about 40 meters away.
Police photographer Ebrima Cham (PW6 and PW7) also testified, identifying postmortem photographs that were admitted as exhibits without objection.
Mamadou Bah is charged with murder contrary to Section 155 and punishable under Section 156 of the Criminal Offenses Act 2025. The particulars allege that on 15 June 2026 at Fajara, Kanifing Municipality, he caused Mbye’s death with malice aforethought by stabbing him in the neck with a broken bottle.
The case was adjourned to 15 October 2026 for the testimony of the prosecution’s eighth witness.
