PHOTO: Defendant Chris Karpeh
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- A 19-year-old man, Chris Karpeh has been unanimously found guilty by trial jurors at Criminal Court “A” in Monrovia for murdering Shadrach George Weah last year in Monrovia’s Bushord Island suburb.
The incident happened recently in the Point Four community and the guilty verdict was handed down recently.
And the Judge of the court is expected to rule on the conviction or sentence at a later date.
Prior to the jurors’ unanimous verdict, defendant Chris Karpeh pleaded guilty to the crime of murder and asked the court to pardon or forgive him, promising that he will never repeat such act.
Defendant Karpeh allegedly committed the act on August 4, 2021 and he was arrested on August 28,2021.
The defendant through his Lawyers begged the court to reduce his sentence on ground that the defendant is young to go for life time imprisonment.
According to police charge street, defendant Karpeh was in violation of Chapter 14, Subchapter “A” section 14.1 of the revised penal code of the Republic of Liberia and he was arrested and acquainted with his constitutional rights, investigated and subsequently charged. He was charged with the crime of murder for criminally, intentionally and malice afford thought taking an axe from his room unknowingly to the victim and strike victim Shadrach George Weah on the head on August 4,2021.
The victim later succumbed to his injury while taking treatment at the Redemption hospital on August 12,2021.
Police investigation revealed that it was prior to the incident, suspect Chris Karpeh and victim Weah had an argument and it degenerated into a fist and said matter fight and said the matter was taken to the Zone one police station.
However, the case was resolved and they all went home and was living together in one accord.
Investigation further revealed that after three weeks, on August 4th, 2021, while decrease Shadrach George Weah was sitting playing with his father named sake Theo a little boy with his head Bending down ward, suspect Chris Karpeh initially came and saw the victim sitting playing with the little boy when he started looking around and later went into their room and came unknowingly to the victim. He was struck on the back of his head and went into hiding.
Investigation also revealed that after suspect Karpeh strike the victim on his head with the axe, he held the axe and stood over the victim holding the axe and as soon the lady shouted, he dropped the axe and escaped and went to Grand Gedeh County where he was arrested.
The investigation further established while, the victim was at the local clinic his condition went worst and he was transferred to the redemption hospital where he remains until on August 12,2021 when he succumbed to his injury.
It was also established that on August 28,2021, defendant Karpeh strike the victim on August 24,2021, he went and took his son cards from in the phone and destroyed same to make his contact tracing impossible for the investigators.
The investigation also revealed that on August 28,2021, defendant Karpeh was arrested from Grand Gedeh County within the Putu Jaodee Mountain and brought to Monrovia, Central police headquarters for questioning where he admitted to the Commission of the crime.
Upon asking defendant as to the reason behind his action, he stated that the victim earlier wounded him with a rake prior to the incident, this is why he paid his debt, the investigation said.
Meanwhile, the state was represented by Cllr. Wesseh A. Wesseh while the defendant was represented by office of the public defender.
Investigation findings
Having review and analyzed the various statements, as well as the crime scene investigation, it was established to writ.
That there was confusion between the defendant and the victim families which resulted into a fist fight.
That during the fist fight, suspect Karpeh was allegedly wounded on his head with a rake by victim Weah on the head.
That the case was taken at the Zone but the case was settled and withdrawn from the police station for home settlement.
That after wondering the victim with Axe on his head, he wanted to destroy evidence by destroying his sim cards from his phone among others.