By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
The man who was convicted of raping and murdering 17-year-old Sata Binda in Liberia’s central Bong County las August has been sentenced to fifty years in prison.
Mr. David Fejue, a 6th grade months ago committed the act in Gbartala, and the 9th Judicial Circuit court in Bong County said that on August 29,2019, the grand Jury of Bong County indicted the raped murderer Amos Morlon and the defendant herein for the alleged commission of the crimes rape and murder.
The Court said count two of the indictment alleged that on September 15, 2019, the defendant raped and murdered deceased Sata Binda in Gbartala town lower Bong County and the indictment also alleged that defendant Morlon raped and later killed the deceased because he suspected her having a relationship with a man identified as Clarence Davis.
The indictment again alleged that after having sex with the deceased, 15 yrs old at the time of the offense, she left the defendant house and later on the night of September 15,2018, defendant saw the deceased, Sata Binda with Clarence Davis, an individual he had suspected Sata Binda of having a relationship with.
The 9th Judicial Circuit court said when defendant confronted the deceased about her relationship with Clarence Davis, she started insulting him which made him angry and started beating on her until she dropped and stopped shaking.
According to the indictment, after the deceased dropped without shaking, the defendant Morlon cut out a piece of a rope tied it on the deceased neck and dragged her to the football field.
However, recent DNA test conducted by the US Federal Bureau of investigation forensic laboratory in Quantico, Virginia revealed that defendant Morlon was the only person out of six accused samples that were taken profile matched with those found on the twine and the virginal swab taken from the deceased.
The 9th Judicial Circuit court ruled that when he was confronted with the DNA evidence, he admitted to committing the crimes in the present of his lawyer.
According to the ruling of the court, during the arraignment of the defendant in open court on September 20, 2019, the defendant pleaded guilty to the crimes charged in the indictment consistent with section 16.4 of the Criminal procedure law. The court inquired from the defendant as to whether his plea was voluntary and whether he fully understand the nature of the crime charged in the indictment and he answered in the affirmative and told the court that he killed the deceased out of emotion and ignorance.
The court said consistent with the statute, a pre-sentence hearing was held to determine whether there were aggravating and or mitigating facts and circumstances that may aid the court in imposing a sentence.
During the pre-sentence hearing, state prosecutors argued and prayed court to impose the maximum sentence under their penal Code, because the killing of the deceased was premeditated and not due to emotion or ignorance as alleged by the convict.
State prosecutors argued that imposition of the maximum penalty will serve as deterrent to others who would attempt to engage in similar criminal conduct.
While the defense counsellor informed court that there were no mitigating facts and circumstances that he had to offer to aid the court in fixing the sentence. The Lawyer prayed the court to proceed according to law and also prayed court not to impose the maximum penalty.
Furthermore, the probation services of Bong county submitted a PSI in which it informed court that the defendant has no prior criminal record, and that he is the support system for his two little girls and family, as well and recommended that the defendant be sentenced to at least twenty-five(25) years; so as to serve as a deterrent and additional two years on probation.
However, in the mind of the court, the killing of the deceased was willful and premeditated adding that no amount of jealousy warrants the killing of a person as the defendant claimed to love.
The court said the defendant attempt to conceal the crimes by dragging the body with a twine rope to a nearby football field is a clear indication that he planned and intended to commit those heinous crimes adding that the deceased has inflicted heavy pain on the family of the deceased.
Bong County 9th Judicial circuit court said even though the court will not impose the maximum penalty as required by the prosecution.
The court however added that it will impose a very heavy sentence that will serve as a deterrent to others and at the same time ensure that the defendant will not have the opportunity to inflict heavy pain on any family again.
Meanwhile, stated prosecution gave an exception to ruling and promised to take advantage of law or statute and the defend counsel accepted the ruling of the court.
Prosecution said consistent with Chapter 14 section 14.1(b) of the penal code provides that the punishment of murder is life imprisonment and giving the nature of the case, they have to take advantage of law.