PHOTO: The 3 convicts just sentenced
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia– Three Liberian men, who were recently convicted of killing the German national, Juergen Schedema in the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County were today, Wednesday, January 19,2022 sentenced to 35 years imprisonment each.
On January 22, 2020, Juergen Schedema was shot during an armed robbery attack at his logging compound in Big Joe Town near the port city of Buchanan.
Slain German Juergen Schedema
Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, reading the sentence of the convicts said, two of the defendants–James Tokpa Kollie, alias “Depree” and Emmanuel Kollie, alias “Porleh” had prior criminal record. But Joseph Cole has no prior criminal record.
Judge Gbeisay’s verdict
Convicts grant press interview
Immediately, after the sentencing of the convicts, this Reporter’d microphone was extended to the convicts, when one of them, James Kollie, alias “Depree” said that he is not deterred of the sentencing. His reason given was that he has “sufficient evidence” to prove his case after the lower court hearing. But how can that be when the Supreme Court doesn’t take evidence.
Convict Kollie added that during his arrest, he was not given much chance to gather his evidence, especially his passport that supposed to prove him innocent was taken away from him by the arresting officer at the Liberia National police.
Narrating further, James Kollie disclosed claimed that he is absolutely innocent of the incident that occurred at the International Consultant Capital (ICC) logging compound, which led to the death of the German national back in 2020.
As for Joseph Cole, alias “Joe Cole”, he claimed that the report of the probation officer at the Ministry of Justice proved that he is totally innocent of what occurred at the ICC logging compound, because the probation officer’s report revealed that he had no prior criminal record.
Convict Cole also expressed his trust in God, hoping that he will one day be released from prison, adding that this is the first situation he has found him in.
He believes that the Supreme Court will set them free when their case appear before the justices and he is calling on well-meaning Liberian to help his three children he left behind.
For his part, he Emmanuel Kollie, alias “Porleh” declined to speak, but said that he will consult his lawyer before speaking or saying anything on the conviction and sentence.
But the defense lawyer, Morris Y. Massaquoi has announced that he is taking an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia sitting in its March A.D. 2022 term of court.
State Lawyer threatens to correct Judgement with the Supreme Court
Meanwhile, a senior state lawyer and Assistant Justice Minister for Litigation, Cllr. Wesseh A. Wesseh has threatened to file a motion to what he called, correct the Judge’s judgment.
Cllr. Wesseh said that anyone who is convicted of murder should be sentenced to death by hanging or life imprisonment.
On January 12,2022, the assigned Judge at 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Kakata Margibi County, Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay has affirmed and confirmed the December 30, 2021 unanimous guilty verdict against three men for the killing of German national, Juergen Schedema, but defense Lawyers have taken exception..
The three men were found guilty for murdering the German national in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County in January 2020. The convicts are James Kollie, alias “Depree”, Emmanuel Kollie, alias “Porleh” and Joseph Cole, alias Joe Cole.
On January 22, 2020, the German national Schedema was shot during an armed robbery incident at the International Consultant Capital Logging Company compound in Big Joe Town near the port city of Buchanan.
According to Judge Gbeisay’s ruling today, Wednesday, January 12, 2022, state prosecutors proved their case beyond reasonable doubt by providing all necessary evidence that led to their conviction.
They were therefore adjudged guilty of the crimes of murder, armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.
Meanwhile, the probation office at the Ministry of Justice has been ordered to do a pre-sentence report on each of the convict and report to the court within five days.
The three men, who were accused of shooting the German national, Juergen Schedema, were on December 30, 2021, unanimously found guilty by trial jurors at the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Kakata, Margibi County.
But lawyers representing the accused took exception to jurors unanimous guilty verdict and promised to take advantage of the statute controlling.
The trial was presided over by its assigned Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay.
The trial lasted for two weeks three days.
Convicts are expected to be sentenced, pending pre-sentence report.
At the same time, a defense Lawyer for the three convicted murderers, Fred B. Johnson has announced an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia sitting in its March term of court.