A man has been sentenced to death for the murder of a British woman who was attacked and killed in her home earlier this year.

Augustine Bangura was convicted of murdering Shakina Chinedu on 14 February 2024 in Sinchang village, in the country’s West Coast Region. He struck her at the back of the neck with a hammer before stealing valuables including a laptop, tablet, mobile phones, camera, wristwatch, and flash drives.

Delivering the judgment at the High Court in Banjul, Justice Ebrima Jaiteh described the murder as “cold, calculated and brutal”. Bangura was sentenced to death for the murder and an additional 15 years’ imprisonment for theft.

The court heard that Bangura was arrested after police traced stolen items to his possession. Prosecutors presented evidence from 12 witnesses, including a businessman and a phone technician who had dealings with the accused.

They also tendered 21 exhibits, including photographs, crime scene footage, and the alleged murder weapon.

Although Bangura denied the charges, the judge ruled that the evidence was overwhelming.

Ms Chinedu, a British citizen, had been a regular visitor to The Gambia. Her murder sparked widespread outrage among locals and expatriates.

While the death penalty remains on the books in The Gambia, no executions have taken place since the government declared a moratorium in 2018. It remains unclear whether Bangura’s sentence will be carried out or commuted.

By Adama Makasuba