Family members of the late Sahid Saio Jawara aged 34, who according to post-mortem examination result was murdered in cold blood, have raised concern over what they refer to as the “Surprising release for the prime suspect Joseph Cole popularly known as J. a Pack”, who was in police custody in respect of the matter.

Police sources have long confirmed that the matter had been duly investigated and the case file forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

During the course of investigations, two names reigned top as being directly involved in the alleged murder.
The prime suspect Joseph Cole was in custody, while the second suspect Gabriel Alias Funky Pee went on the run, apparently to evade police arrest.

The release of the prime suspect J. Pack, whose detention provided a glimmer of hope for justice to the bereaved family, has left them in a confused state as to what now becomes of the matter.

Mother of the late Sahid Saio Jawara, Madam Hawa Jawara who is based in Maryland in the United States of America (USA), said “No one has communicated to us the reason for the release, and we are extremely worried over the direction the matter has taken”.

Lawyer Musa Beretay ESQ, acting on behalf of the bereaved family, on 2nd March 2022, addressed a correspondence to the DPP titled,

“Request for the DPP’s advice on the alleged murder of Sahid Saio Jawara”. The body of the said correspondence reads, “I act as Solicitor for the Jawara Family [and] I had made representation to the investigators at the Lumley Police Division for the Jawara Family whose aforementioned family member was reportedly killed by one J. Pack and one ‘Funki Pee!.

Upon information received that the said J. Pack who was in police custody has been released on bail based on the DPP’s advice, I decided to visit the Crime Officer at Lumley Police Division on the 1st day of March 2022 to confirm the information received.

The said Crime Officer confirmed the foregoing information and showed me the advice but refused to avail me with copy of same, saying that they are not used to doing that. As Counsel associating with the police investigations, I encouraged the Crime Officer to avail me with copy of the said advice for the attention of my clients but to no avail.

I am convinced that the DPP’s advice on the instant matter is not a secret or classified document that could warrant a refusal of same associating with counsel.