PHOTO: Defendant Patrick Kollie
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- the Liberia National Police has charged and sent to court an Executive Protection Agency (EPS) officer, Patrick Kollie who this week shot and killed a civilian in the Paynesville suburb of Monrovia.
As Garmah Never Lomo reports, his action is in violation of Chapter 14, section 14.1 of the revised penal code of the Republic of Liberia,
The victim, Valentine T. Johnson was shot with a gun at the back of his head by EPS agent Kollie, who has since been disrobed from the presidential elite force, is now spending his time at the Monrovia Central prison to await court trial.
The incident occurred at the Police Academy Community junction.
Defendant Kollie was arrested, informed of his constitutional rights, investigated and subsequently charged with the crime of murder for purposely, knowingly and recklessly shooting behind alleged criminals that were escaping from him, thus manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.
The police disclosed that unfortunately, the bullet from his assigned 9*19MM (9Millimeter) Norinco pistol hit victim Valentine T. Johnson above the left eye. Johnson was riding on an approaching motorbike thus killing him instantly on July 4,2022 at the police Academy junction going towards Redlight.
After the alleged shooting incident, Defendant Kollie got in his white Hyundai sedan vehicle and fled the scene in wanton regard to the existence of human life.
Police Investigation
During police in-depth investigation conducted at the Crime Against Person Unit, it was established that on July 4, 2022, defendant Patrick Kollie of the EPS who was not on official duty nor around his assigned vicinity, was on his way to his police Academy residence.
The police charge sheet further added that upon the defendant reaching Police Academy Junction, he allegedly came across some criminals who tried to molest him thereby impeding his movement.
Police investigation also established that while argument was ongoing between defendant and those alleged criminals, defendant Kollie went into his parked vehicle and took his assigned 9MM Norinco pistol with serial number LR/EPS/4097307-67 and as soon as the criminals realized that defendant Kollie was in possession of an arm, they took off to their heel and passed by an approaching motorbike.
Accordingly, it was further established that as soon the two criminals passed the approaching motorbike, defendant Kollie fired a round behind the two criminals, thus hitting deceased Valentine T. Johnson above his left eye and exiting behind his head leaving him unconscious and subsequently succumbing to death.
Additionally, it was uncovered that after defendant Kollie realized that he has wrongly hit the wrong person, he immediately got into his vehicle and speedily left the crime scene and went towards the SKD boulevard road passing through police Academy.
However, defendant Kollie during the course of the investigation admitted discharging fire arm and explained that he was attacked by a group of things who wanted to disarm him in the process, his fire arm went off or got discharged, thereby hitting a civilian who was riding on an approaching motorbike.
Investigation findings
Having thoroughly investigated the matter, the following facts were established to writ;
That victim Johnson alias T-boy was shot by the defendant Kollie thus leaving to his death.
That defendant Kollie had no reason to shoot behind the alleged criminals having known and seen that they were actually afraid and fleeing from him.
That the weapon of defendant Kollie was discharged unnecessarily, because there was no imminent threat posed to him, nor any other person that warranted him discharging his fire arm.
That Defendant Kollie having observed that victim Johnson was being hit with the bullet that he discharged from his weapon, he quickly drove from the scene leaving the victim unresponsive with blood oozing from the back of his head.
That examination conducted on the victim’s physical body at the John F. Kennedy memorial hospital, it was observed that victim was shot above his left eye which was the entry wound and exited behind his skull.
That defendant Kollie’s action clearly shows that he was in flagrant violation of rule four of the basic firm arm cardinal rules that states be aware of your target and what is beyond your target.
Upon defendant Kollie arrival at the Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice, he filed a submission through his lawyer for preliminary examination and said submission was done in line with Chapter 12 section 12.2 of the Criminal procedure law of Liberia.
A submission which state prosecutors interposed no objection and said the Monrovia City Court is out of jurisdiction to hear criminal case and request court to reassign the matter.
The Court headed by magistrate Jomah Jallah said:
Having listen to the submission made by Cllr for defendant requesting this court to order preliminary examination in these proceedings, consistent with Chapter 12.2 of the criminal procedure law, in this jurisdiction and also considering the resistant made by prosecution that it interpose no objection to the said submission but informed court that in realization to the rule of court governing magistrate that criminal cases are heard during morning hours and civil cases heard in the afternoon.
This court says the practice and procedure in this jurisdiction
with section 12.2 of the criminal procedure law a defendant charged with a chapter offense or felony is of the right entitled to preliminary examination when requested by the defendant
The defendant having invoked section 12.2 of the criminal procedure law for preliminary examination this court says same is here by granted.
Trial case suspended with the usual issuance of assignment.