FLASHBACK: Jungle justice killings in Maryland County
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
The assigned Circuit court Judge at the 15th Judicial Circuit Court in Fishtown, River Gee County has granted bail for seven men who were indicted for the crimes of murder, criminal conspiracy and Criminal facilitation in Rock Town Barrobo, Maryland County.
The court is in its November 2021 A.D term.
It can be recalled that in 20219, the General Town Chief and two of his men were gruesomely murdered in Rock Town, Barrobo Statutory District in Maryland County on witchcraft allegation. The three men, who were brutally killed, are Isaac Weah Saydee, David Nugbo and Issac Gortoe whose ages are yet to be identified.
The release of the seven defendants came as a result of the defense Lawyer, Atty. Jerome Pour’s motion to admit to bail in December and the motion was argued in court and granted by Judge Konton.
Those indicted for the gruesome murder of three men in Barrobo were eight initially after they administered “Sassywoo”, trial by ordeal that led to the men’s deaths. But in August of 2021, one of the defendants, John Weah died in prison after a protracted illness and he was buried in Fishtown, RiverGee County.
The latest release on bail of the seven suspects are causing many wondered even though “Sassywood” has for years been banned by government.
The defense Lawyer’s motion was based on the below stated chapter in the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia.
Chapter 13.BAIL
- 13.1. Right to bail.
1.Capital offenses.
“A person in custody for the commission of a capital offense shall, before conviction, be entitled as of right to be admitted to bail unless the proof is evident or the presumption great that he is guilty of the offense. On the hearing of an application for admission to bail made before indictment by a person in custody for the commission of a capital offense, the burden of showing that the proof is evident or the presumption great that he is guilty of the offense is on the Republic. After indictment for such an offense, the burden is on the defendant to shown that the proof is not evident or the presumption not great. After conviction for a capital offense, no person shall be continued at large on bail or be admitted to bail except in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3 of this section.”
Complaints & setbacks
The Liberia Justice system continues to suffer a series of setbacks, with complaints in many quarters about lack of justice, particularly from victims who are left at the mercy of Criminal-minded individuals who unleash violence often resulting into fatalities.
Many peaceful citizens have been left at the mercy of criminals, causing many to blame this for the rise in mob violence in the southeastern region and other parts of Liberia.
The Barrabo gruesome murder was one of the incidents cited.
Liberia’s Solicitor General was accused during the 2020 November term of Court by the 15th Judicial Circuit Court, George W. Smith of wanting to have private discussion with him concerning the Barrobo case of the three men in Rock Town, something the SG denied.
Background
In early September of 2019, Police in Liberia’s southeastern Maryland County have investigated, charged and forwarded to court eight persons, who allegedly killed three men for admitting that they are witchcraft.
Three men recently became victims of a trial by ordeal and were executed after being subjected to mob/jungle justice in the town of Barrobo and citizens are calling on the government to put a stop to this practice.
Trial by ordeal, which is a form of “jungle justice” is a violation of Liberian law but it has been going on in some areas around the country through “Sassywood” ever since the practice was banned many years ago.
But the police have now charged the eight men with murder, criminal conspiracy, Criminal facilitation and criminal mischief.
On September on 2, 2019 in Rock Town in Barrobo District, Maryland County that three men were brutally murdered, including the town chiefs for allegedly openly confessing that they are witchcraft.
According to the police charge sheet the eight men were in violation of Chapter 14 Sub-chapter A section 14.6,
The late Town Chief along with the two others persons, were accused of being involved in alleged witchcraft activities in the District, something which the three accused had admitted that indeed they were witchcraft and even planned to kill the 14 persons who allegedly killed them.
The 14 persons are John Tweh, age 49; Moses Chea, age 50; Sam Gbaquire, age 42; Chea Karmunue, age 49, Dargbo Toe, age 50; David Weah, age 33 and Cyrus Doe age 35.
Others are Toeson Hinneh, Jacob Doe, Prince Doe,and Amos Barway and Vasco Weah.
Among the 14 persons who allegedly killed the three men six are on the run and those on the run are Jacob Doe, Prince Doe, Vasco Weah, Dargbo Toe and Amos Barway are currently on the run.
They disclosed that after the open confession the three men in Rock town Barrobo District, Maryland County, the 14 mentioned above took the three men in the middle of the town and used cutlasses to chop them on their Necks, thus leaving the flesh only holding on their shoulder.
The victims were slaughtered and arranged, including the town chief who is elderly man..
What seems to the order of the day in handling alleged witchcraft activities is trial by ordeal in southeastern Liberia.
This trial by ordeal has led to the deaths of several persons around Liberia, specifically southwestern Liberia.
It can be recalled that in Grand Kru County recently, a 72-year-old woman and was beaten, with stick inserted in her private part.
The citizens said trial by ordeal has taken over the country, thus causing several people to lose their lives, even though justice can sometimes be served but it is not enough at all.