Police Send Man Who Did The Killing To Court
PHOTO: Ms. Samelia Darlene Fuller (left) who fell prey to the single barrel gun bullet and defendant (right)
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF MONROVIA, Monrovia– A bullet from a single barrel pistol has killed Young Samelia Fuller and the Liberia National Police (LNP) forwarded to court the man who reportedly killed her.
Defendant Liston B. Yekeh, who is said to be her boyfriend, was sent to the Monrovia City Court on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 for allegedly killing his Samelia in the Soul Clinic Community.
Defendant Yekeh is facing several criminal charges including: Possession and sale of Physical Object for Lethal use (Possession of Firearm), and Manslaughter, in violations of Chapters 14 & 17, Sections 14. 2 & 17.11 of the new Penal law of the Republic of Liberia, pending Court trial.
During Police’s investigation conducted into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Samelia Fuller, it was revealed that on Monday, January 2, victim Fuller along with her boyfriend defendant Yekeh (accused) and others from Soul Clinic Community to include Joyce Dariue, Antoinette Yarpah, Lydia Sekpor and Oliver Daniels lert their Soul Clinic Community and proceeded to Zazay Community and Duport Road in celebration of the New Year Holiday (Monday January 2, 2023). They stayed out until 1200AM, when they returned to Soul clinic Community at another entertainment center and spent additional time, after which they decided to go home.
“They got to victim Fuller deceased parents’ residence and having spent about 30 minutes, defendant Yekeh requested for his belongings to go home (waist bag and jacket) which were given him by Joyce Darjue, older sister of late Samella D. Fuller,” the police charge sheet revealed.
According to the police charge when the defendant received his items in the midst of everyone, defendant Yekeh took a single barrel shot gun (pistol) which he held in his hand which brought fear to his friends, but decided to open the gun to show his friends that the gun has no shot in it; saying that in the process, the gun fire and hit the deceased who was standing in the direct opposite, thus fell on the ground and started bleeding from her neck.
The charge sheet states that after the incident, the deceased was immediately placed over motor bike and was rushed to a nearby hospital (Benson Hospital) but was turned and referred to the John F. Kennedy’s Medical Hospital where she was pronounced dead by doctors upon arrival.
“The body was thereafter preserved at the J.F.K Morgue where external examinations were carried out by Homicide Detectives and its Forensic counter parts, along with the Head of the Montserrado County’s Coroner,” police investigators disclosed.
Police charge sheet also indicated that during the external examinations, single barrel gun’s entries and gunpowder residue were observed on the victim’s neck precisely under the chain; adding that no exit wound(s) was observed.
During police investigation with defendant Yekeh regarding his involvement in the death of victim Fuller, defendant Yekeh decided to remain silent in the absence of his lawyer.
Investigators said, witnesses who were present revealed through their testimonies that the incident happened as a result of mistake.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that they were all happy, celebrating the New Year Holiday together with the late Fuller and her boyfriend (defendant Yekeh) doing everything in common; they did not notice any misunderstanding or contusion taken place between the deceased and the victim until everyone of them came back home.
The witnesses further in their testimonies that when they were at the late Samelia’s parent house and was late, everyone was thinking about going home at their separate locations, it was at which time defendant Yekeh requested for his bag to go home and took out the gun and show them that he has the firearm to fight any would be criminal (s) that might come his way while going home, but while he defendant Yekeh was holding the gun trying to open it, the gun immediately fired and hit Samelia who was a good friend and sister to every one of them.
Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has since been turned over to her bereaved family by the head of the Montserrado County Coroner based upon request for funeral arrangement.