Gambia murder: Woman fears brother's killer could walk free

Jack Kenley was stabbed to death by a burglar in the Gambia

The sister of a Briton stabbed to death in The Gambia fears his killer could walk free amid a court "shambles" that has seen the case adjourned 44 times.

Jack Kenley was knifed by a burglar at his Kotu home in August 2015.

His accused killer was found hiding behind a door, and admitted murdering the 52-year-old to police.

His sister Elaine Kellett from Kent, wants Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to intervene. The Foreign Office said it was supporting the family.

"We have been waiting three years for justice and there is no sign of that happening any time soon," the Maidstone woman said.

"Jack was a British citizen but it feels like he has been forgotten and there is a very real chance that his killer could walk free.

"He admitted killing my brother but that was deemed inadmissible."

She added: "It is a shambles and the state prosecutor seems unwilling to appeal. I am begging Mr Johnson to look at the case and see if there is anything he can do to help."

Jack Kenley married his wife Fatou in 2009

The accused initially told police that he was 18 but a subsequent bone test suggested he was 17 and should therefore be tried as a child.

Lawyers for Mr Kenley's family want a second, independent test carried out to check the result.

Father-of-four Mr Kenley was living in Bedfont, west London, when was he was introduced to a Gambian woman, Fatou Sarjo Kenley.

The pair married and in 2009 he moved to The Gambia.

Mrs Kellett said they were both "madly in love" and he was" happier than I have ever seen him".

The family's lawyer Magdalena Knez, from Slater and Gordon, said: "We echo Mrs Kellett's call for the Foreign Office to take a more active role to get this case heard and achieve justice for the family."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Jack's family have our deepest sympathies, and our staff continue to support them and remain in contact with their lawyer.

"We have raised our concerns about the need for a prompt and thorough investigation into Jack's death with the Gambian authorities."