By Adama Makasuba
The Supreme Court is set to deliver its judgment on the appeal case of Yankuba Touray, who seeks to overturn his conviction and death sentence for the 1995 murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay.
In his closing address, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Abdul Maita Yusuf urged the court to reject Touray’s appeal and uphold the conviction.
Yusuf emphasized that Touray’s involvement in the murder went beyond striking Ceesay with a pestle; he also participated in disposing of the body by burning it to conceal the crime.
Ceesay, a civilian and then Minister of Finance, was lured to Touray’s residence in Kerr Serign in June 1995, where he was beaten to death by Touray, Edward Singhateh, and others. His charred remains were found in a vehicle along the Sukuta-Jambur highway, initially reported as a car accident. However, investigations revealed that it was a deliberate attempt to cover up the murder.
Touray denied the charges, asserting he was elsewhere during the incident. The High Court found his alibi unconvincing, leading to his conviction and death sentence in July 2021. The Court of Appeal upheld this decision in December 2022. Yusuf presented compelling evidence, including witness testimonies and forensic findings, that confirmed Touray’s direct role in both the murder and the disposal of Ceesay’s body. He also highlighted the systematic obstruction of investigations into the crime for over 20
