PHOTO: Murder suspect Sayo M. Kromah
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- A 37-year-old man is in court, after Police investigated and charged him with murder in the central Bong County.
Sayo M. Kromah allegedly killed Stephen Dahn on the outskirts of Suakoko City, here near Bong County’s capital two weeks ago.
Under Liberian law, Murder is a felony of the first degree but a person convicted of murder may be sentenced to death or life imprisonment as provided in Sections 50.5 and 51.3”
Suspect Sayo M. Kromah informed Police investigators that he murdered the man, age 40, after he heard an angry crowd running after victim Stephen Dahn on grounds that he stole motorbike.
“I feel very hurt, very unhappy at the moment. I want to ask the government of Liberia through the Police to forgive me, it wasn’t my intention to do what I did,” Suspect Kromah added.
According to the Liberia National Police Bong County Detachment, victim Stephen Dahn lifeless body was discovered on May 31, 2024, lying around the Suakoko High School Campus in the County.
Upon the discovery, a 15–man Coroner jury, comprising health workers, was quickly ordered to observe the lifeless body of the victim.
The Coroner jury reported that suspect Sayo M. Kormah and others who are on the run allegedly victimized Stephen Dahn through mob violence that resulted to his untimely demise.
“There were multiple bruises on the body and wounds on the head,” the Jury’s report noted.
Defendant Sayo M. Kromah has been charged and sent to the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court by the Liberia National Police Crime Services Division Commander, John Kelenso Flomo with murder under section 14. 1 of the New Penal Code of Liberia.
Section 14.1 under murder says “A person is guilty of murder if he:
(a) Purposely or knowingly causes the death of another human being; or
(b) Causes the death of another human being under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life. A rebuttable presumption that such indifference exists arises if the defendant is engaged or is an accomplice in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit, treason, offenses defined in Sections
11.2 or 11.3 of this title, espionage, sabotage, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, felonious restraint, arson, rape, aggravated involuntary sodomy, escape, piracy, or other felony involving force or danger to human life.