The criminal trial of Mayombe Samuel, a Cameroonian National who is charged with the murder of one Therese Opons Wodijia proceeded

before Magistrate Emmanuel E.A Amadi at the Banjul High Court with the testimony of the 2nd prosecution witness, Doctor Abdulie Alieu Ceesay.

When the case was called by the Court clerk, State Counsel S.H Bankum informed the court that he is representing the State, while defence counsel Kebba Sanyang announced that he is appearing for the accused person.

The prosecution called one Abdulie Alieu Ceesay, (alias Doctor Ceesay) as their second witness (PW2). Dr Ceesay said he is currently living in Fajara M. section. He said that he is a medical practitioner attached to the Accident and Emergency Unit at RVTH. Doctor Ceesay said he is also a senior Register at the mortuary at the RVTH, adding that his duty is to attend to all accident and emergency cases and that he also conducts postmortem whenever the need arises.

The Doctor further informed the court that postmortem is meant to establish the cause of death and make a report on it.

Dr. Ceesay said on the 25 of February 2008 while on duty, he was called upon to perform a postmortem at the mortuary on the body of one Therese Opons Wodijia.

He said he performed a postmortem and wrote a report on the said operation.

At this point, the State counsel showed him the report for identification and the witness nodded his head, indicating that he was the one who wrote that report and could recognise it through his signature. The medical report was tendered and marked as exhibit P3 without objection from the defence counsel.

Asked by the prosecutor as to who prepared the death certificate of the decease.

The witness noted that he prepared the death certificate. At this juncture, the death certificate of the decease was also tendered and marked as exhibit P4 without objection from the defence.

Doctor Ceesay narrated that the death was caused by respiratory embarrassment.

He said t there are active and passive respiratory embarrassments. He said these are facilitated by cervical nerves. Mr. Ceesay informed the court that these nerves are elevated in the diaphragm.

When asked by the state counsels as to what was in the diaphragm, the witness said the diaphragm is a muscle between the chest and the abdomen. He said the diaphragm has nerves starting from the neck downwards, adding that when it opens, air goes inside the diaphragm and that when it contracts, the chest becomes small and air goes out.

Dr. Ceesay said when the neck is broken, the nerves do not open the diaphragm and so breathing is embarrassed.

Cross Examination By Defence Counsel Kebba Sanyang Sanyang looked at exhibit P3, the medical report and asked the witness to tell the court what is Haematorma as he observed it on the first rib of the chest of the desease.

Dr Ceesay added that this is a compound word of Greek and Latin. He said "Hae" in Greek means blood and "Mator" in Latin means stand.

Sanyang: what causes Haemotorma?

Ceesay: It is cause by beating and external impact can also cause it.

Sanyang: Can sickness cause it?

Ceesay: No

Sanyang: Is it correct that nerves on the neck pass from the top bottom where the heart is?

Ceesay: There are circulations, big and small circulations, and the rib has nothing to do with circulations.

Sanyang: PW1 said in his evidence in chief that the decease had a heart condition, can this cause respiratory embarrassment?

Ceesay: No

Sanyang: Can a problem affecting the heart of a human cause respiratory embarrassment?

Ceesay: It cannot.

Sanyang: Apart from the facts you narrated in court, is there any other factor that can cause respiratory embarrassment

Ceesay: No

Sanyang: will Asthma cause respiratory embarrassment?

Ceesay: No

Sanyang: Cardial arrest and respiratory embarrassment have any relationship?

Ceesay: No, they are like day and night.

Hearing continues.