PHOTO: Murder suspect Yarkpawolo Doyen
By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- A 40-year-old man in Janjay Town, in the central Bong County has been charged and sent to court for allegedly beating his spouse to death.
Mr. Yarkpawolo Doyan is said to have severely flogged his long-time girlfriend, claiming that she disrespected him before her death days later.
This comes amidst recent concerns expressed by some Gender advocacy groups and the Independent National Human Rights Commission about a rise in domestic violence around the country, as the country continues the fight against the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.
According to police charge sheet, Doyan committed the act on April 5, 2020, while the victim was pronounced dead on May 5, 2020.
The Crime Services Division Commander of the Liberia National Police in Gbarnga, John Kellenso Flomo said they received a tipoff on the commission of the crime on the same day the victim died.
Photo of Doyan taken from another angle
A panel set up to examine the remains concluded that there was a foul play.
During preliminary investigation, the accused admitted beating his wife on April 30, but not on April 5, 2020.
He also admitted failing to underwrite her medical treatment on grounds that he never had money, and that the deceased was sole custodian of their earnings.
“To be honest I never beat her on the day she died. So I can’t say because I beat her on April 30 so it’s what resulted to her death,” suspect Doyan said.
But the murder suspect is appealing not to go to jail. The crime of murder is a nonbailable offense under Liberian law.
In a related development, a 50-year-old man recently admitted shooting dead his girlfriend, age 29, in Salala, Bong County on suspicion that she was involved in extra love affairs.