Baba Hydara, the son of slain journalist Deyda Hydara, came face-to-face with one of his father’s alleged killers Bai Lowe in a German courtroom today (25 April).

Hydara travelled from Banjul to witness the landmark case.

He is a co-plaintiff along with his father’s former employers Agence France Presse and Reporters Without Borders. 

Former Gambian soldier Bai Lowe makes his first court appearance today in the German town of Celle. 

Brought into court with handcuffs, Lowe who was dressed in black jacket covered his face with a green file throughout the proceedings.

German news agency DPA reported that the suspect didn’t respond to the charges.

The 46-year-old suspect has been charged with crimes against humanity, murder and attempted murder.

Federal prosecutors say that the suspect was a driver for a unit known as the “patrol team,” or “Junglers,” from December 2003 until December 2006.

“I am confident that justice will be done,” said Hydara’s son, Baba Hydara, 45.

“Germany is a neutral country and I am expecting a fair trial.”

But he pointed to the gruelling 18-year struggle to get to this point and the challenges for securing justice in The Gambia.

“There is a lot of expectations,” he said. “This is just a first battle win, but the war is still on.”

Lowe is being prosecuted under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows a foreign country to prosecute crimes against humanity, including war crimes and genocide, regardless of where they were committed.