PHOTO: L-Prosecution fourth witnesses Mr. Abu Daramy after testifying
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TUBMANBURG, Liberia- The trial of Jonathan Williams, the man who allegedly killed Journalist Tyron Browne, continued Wednesday in Bomi County, with defense lawyers cross-examining state prosecutors’ fourth and fifth witnesses.
The legal team representing defendant Jonathan Williams questioned police officers Abu M. Daramy as to why they failed to obtain the deceased call log from GSM companies in order to be able to identify the last person that called the late Browne.
Responding, Daramy told defense lawyers headed by Cllr. James Bombo said they were simply informed by Charles Browne, (brother of the deceased) that his late brother had received a call while they were at their residence at which time Tyron informed him (Charles) that he was going to the Pipeline Community. And he said that the brother did not inform investigators as to who called the deceased.
Speaking further, he said due to the urgent nature of the case, therefore, they did not obtain Tyron’s call log to establish the last person that rang him.
In a follow up question, Cllr. Bombo maintained that though Tyron is dead, his number still exists and that defense wanted to know why a person calling someone as late as 11 PM, who was later killed, was not identified in order to make that information part of the investigation.
Prosecuting lawyers interposed objection to the question, which was overruled by Judge Nancy Sammy on grounds that the call was mentioned in the police officer’s testimony.
It can be recalled that in his Testimony in Chief, on April 16, 2019, senior police officer Abu Daramy said they were alerted by the Crime Services Commander at the Zone Five Police Depot of the presence of a male body identified as Tyron Browne lying on the road leading to the Kingdom Care Hospital which required the attention of homicide and forensic investigators.
On reaching the crime scene, Daramy said it was established that where the victim’s remains were discovered, was not the primary, but secondary crime scene.
Their conclusion, he said, took into consideration facts that there were no signs of tussle or blood to indicate that the crime occurred there.
He said they saw Tyron in prone position with several stab wounds and pants halfway down to his waist.
The law enforcement officer who has been serving the LNP since 1986, further testified that they subsequently took the remains of Tyron to the Benson Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Journalist Tyron Browne’s remains were later deposited at the A. B. Roberts Funeral Home on the Somalia Drive for preservation, pending external and coroner’s jury examinations.
Daramy further testified that the deceased sustained two stab wounds – one in the right rib and the other in the left back, where soft tissues are located.
He said they then returned to the secondary crime scene in order to gather information that would lead them to the primary scene – where the crime occurred.
Mr. Daramy narrated that during their investigation, they were informed that the deceased had video recorded a wedding program for a couple identified as Mr. &Mrs. Tamba after which he made a stop at his Christ Embassy Church on Du-port Road where he left his camera with a security at the church and headed home.
It was while at his house that he received a telephone call from someone whose name he did not disclose to his brother Charles, the police officer went on to explain.
After defendant Williams allegedly committed the killed Tyron [at his residence that night], he informed former Police Inspector General Chris Massaquoi and sought his advice as to what to do, Daramy said in his testimony.
Col. Massaquoi, he added, advised the defendant to report the matter to the police.
While Williams was leaving the former police chief’s house, he (Col. Massaquoi) called the Crime Services Division and informed them about the incident and described the car the defendant was riding, Daramy went on to explain.
Meanwhile, the witness said the police was already in pursuit of Williams who was eventually arrested, taken to the police for questioning and acquainted with his rights to obtain a lawyer or remain silent.
Represented by Cllr. Cyril Jones during preliminary investigation at the police headquarters, defendant Williams said that on the night of the incident, one of his nieces in person of Alice Youtee had alerted him (Williams) that someone was repeatedly knocking at the their (nieces) room window.
Williams said he consequently took a cutlass and stepped out to confront the person (Tyron) and claims he was in possession of a knife.
The deceased, he said, defied and threatened him. A scuffle ensued between the two, according to Williams, during which he said he overpowered Tyron, stabbing him several times.
State prosecutors’ fifth witness is a forensic lab technician at the LNP, Vally Sheriff. He had testified on April 15, 2018, that he received a call from his boss DCCP Emmanuel Doe Jlikan asking him as head of the forensic unit to respond to an alleged homicide incident on Du-road.
During his testimony in Chief, he told the court and jury de facto that upon receiving the call, he, along with some technicians and some members of the Crime against Person Unit proceeded to the Kingdom Care road where they saw a body laid on the road.
He explained that during their extended investigation at the AB Roberts Funeral Home, they observed three deep wounds on the body; specifically in the left side of the body, another in the upper left arm.
Mr. Sheriff also testified that they also entered the alleged culprit’s appointment, where they retrieved the instrument allegedly used to commit the murder, which was confirmed by one Jonna Bracewell.
Prosecution fifth witnesses told court that all pieces of evidence collected were taken to their laboratory for analyzing.
At the lab, he said they discovered blood stain (human blood) on a shirt from the apartment.
The car said to have been used in the commission of the crime was also retrieved and blood stains extracted from it, though it had already been washed. Those blood stains were also established through clinical test to be human blood.
The witness was cross examined by defense lawyer Jimmy Bombo.
The state was represented by the Director of Felonious Crimes Ministry at the Justice Ministry, Cllr. Cornelius F. Wenna, Assistant Justice Minister for Litigation, Cllr. Wesseh A. Wesseh and Bomi County attorney Abraham Tamba Gboree, while the defense was represented by Cllr. Jimmy Bombo, Atty. Lawrence Tamba and Steven J.C.S Kai.
Meanwhile, Journalist Tryon Browne’s murder trial continues this Friday, February 28, 2020, with the prosecution’s sixth state witness taking the stand. The defense is also expected to produce their witnesses the same day.