PHOTO: Dr. Joseph N. Siaway
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- Following the December 5, hearing, Liberian government Lawyers have requested the Judge of Criminal Court ’A’ to Subpoena a Medical Doctor at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Hospital, Joseph N. Siaway to take the witness stand.
Dr. Siaway pronounced dead on arrival the victim of the shooting by Executive Protection Service (EPS) officer Patrick Kollie, Valentine and the state lawyers asked Judge Roosevelt Willie that the JFK doctor takes the witness stand in this murder case.
Judge Willie granted the request of Prosecution to subpoena Doctor Siaway to appear before the trial jurors today, Wednesday, December 7,2022 at the hours of 10:30am at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
This latest request by state prosecution brings the total number of witnesses that have appeared before the trial jurors to five (5).
On Monday December 5, 2022, state Prosecutors fourth witness contradictory testimony before the trial jurors at Criminal Court “A” has created more doubt, in the ongoing trail by provided two separate pieces of information surrounding his decision to charge Defendant Patrick Kollie with murder.
Mr. Jerry K.M. Wamah is the commander of homicide division of the Liberia National Police and the Chief investigator in the July 4,2022 shooting incident that led to the death of Valentine Johnson in the Police Academy Community in Paynesville City involving Defendant Patrick Kollie.
Defendant Kollie is being tried for murder at Criminal Court ‘A’ based on investigative findings by the crime services department and homicide division of the Liberia National Police.
According to Wamah, their investigative findings show that Defendant Kollie purposely, knowingly, intentionally, and wrongfully shot behind some men believed to be criminals, but the shot did not hit those targeted, rather the victim Valentine Johnson in violation of Rule Four of the Basic Fire-Arm rules.
Mr. Wamah however, said he was not on the scene when the incident took placed.
Though he finally charged the Defendant with murder, witness Wamah also noted that the defendant told investigators that he was involved in a tussle with criminals when his arm mistakenly discharged.
“It was established that Defendant Patrick Kollie, who was not on duty, not even at assignment area, was on his way home at the Police Academy Community when he came across an allege criminal that try to molest him to impede his movement, in the process, the defendant went into his white vehicle, picked up his assigned weapon Noreagao pistol and as soon the allege criminals spotted him picking his arm from his vehicle, they took to their heed, during which time Defendant Patrick Kollie fired behind the alleged suspect while the victim was on an approaching motorbike and got hit by the bullet,” Inspector Wamah noted.
At the same time, Wamah said Defendant Kollie space the scene but was arrested after he later came to the Liberia National Police Central Office.
He however, failed to state the name of the person who escorted Defendant Kollie to the LNP Headquarters.
What seem doubting to many at the court, was the fact, that witness Waymah said he did not know details of the person who escorted Defendant Kollie go to the LNP Headquarters, but he told the court that he gave the weapon allegedly used that night to the unknown individual.
He also noted that Defendant Kollie did not turn himself over willingly, the fact that he had to be escorted by a friend to the national police headquarters.