Mr. Sow, 20 years old, appeared before the Thiès court for flagrant offenses to answer charges of robbery with assault. He is accused of attacking D. Cissé in order to steal his Jakarta motorcycle. The incident took place in Keur Mor Ndiaye.

In court, the victim D. Cissé recounted the circumstances of the attack. According to him, the incident occurred around 10 p.m. while he was riding his Jakarta motorcycle with two passengers.

“There were two of them. They intercepted me near Keur Mor Ndiaye. It was Mr. Sow who insulted me before brandishing a machete. He wanted to hit me and I preferred to abandon my motorcycle to let them take it away,” he explained.

The victim claims to formally recognize the accused. "I know Mr. Sow well. He lives in Keur Madiama and, at the time of the events, he was wearing dreadlocks," he added.

After the attack, D. Cissé stated that he contacted his older brother, who put him in touch with the commander of the gendarmerie brigade. Together, they went to the suspect's home where he was arrested. D. Cissé demanded 380,000 FCFA in compensation.

Technology and looks as evidence

The defendant, Mr. Sow, categorically denied the charges against him. He did, however, admit to wearing dreadlocks at the time of the incident. According to the case file, a phone search warrant allowed investigators to establish that the defendant's phone was in the area indicated by the victim at the time of the assault.

The public prosecutor, considering that the facts are consistent, requested a sentence of two years imprisonment, including eight months of mandatory imprisonment.

Representing the defendant, Mr. Sène argued that the case lacked sufficient physical evidence. According to him, the motorcycle was not found at the defendant's residence, and no direct testimony corroborated the accusations. The lawyer thus highlighted several unanswered questions in the case and pleaded for his client's acquittal based on reasonable doubt.

The court finally found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to 2 years in prison, including 8 months of mandatory imprisonment, as well as the payment of 380,000 FCFA to the civil party as compensation.