PHOTO: Defendant Prince Massaquoi, who allegedly raped the girl, being escorted to court from the police station
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- A Liberian girl, age 13 has lost her life in a violent manner, after being wounded and allegedly being raped, but the Liberian National Police (LNP) has now got on top of the case.
The LNP in Monrovia has arrested, investigated, charged and today, Wednesday, February 9, 2020 sent to Court for a 33-year-old man Identified as Prince Massaquoi, after he allegedly raped a girl, age 13, Blessing Morton to death in central Monrovia.
The crime allegedly took place in the Camp Johnson Road area on January 20, 2022.
He is charged with Statutory Rape in violation of Chapter 14.70 of the New Penal Law of Liberia.
Meanwhile, perpetrator Prince Massaquoi has been incarcerated at the Monrovia Central prison to await court trial.
Rape is a bon-bailable crime in Liberia. President George Manneh Weah in September 2020 issued a proclamation declaring rape as a national emergency, in the wake of the upsurge in the number of rape cases in the country.
Earlier, the police released a report that the victim died from a natural cause contrary to the medical report released by Hope for women which showed that victim was gruesomely raped.
This situation led to right activists staging a peaceful protest and petition the lawmakers that they are demanding justice on behalf of the victim.
According to the police charge sheet, on January 20, 2022 at 9:05am, Amos Y. Hare age 42 and resident of the Camp Johnson road came along with the victim and defendant Prince Massaquoi at the women and children protection section Central office and alleged that the victim was sexually abused by defendant Prince Massaquoi.
Mr. Hare further told police investigation on Wednesday January 19, 2022 that he called his friend, an EPS officer Ishmael Totemen to ask his 13-year-ol daughter (victim), who has temper with her since she(victim) was afraid to him what was happening to her. EPS is the Executive Protection Service.
But when PS officer Toteman when he (Mr. Hare) went on to ask the victim in his presence but she didn’t say anything but when Mr. Toteman took her inside, she told him that it was defendant Prince Massaquoi, who sexually abused her and he told her if she tells anyone she will die and he will deny it.
Mr. Hare concluded that the same day they asked victim to show them the place and she carried them to defendant Prince Massaquoi’s house and on Thursday January 20, 2022, they arrested him and brought him to the women and children protection at the section at the Liberia National police Central headquarters.
As for the teenage victim, she was unable to narrate her ordeal due to her medical condition.
Based upon this complaint, an investigation was conducted and the following were established:
That victim’s registration form for Academic 2020/2021 school year from the Charles D.B. King elementary school confirmed that she was born on January 2, 2009.
That victim physical appearance showed that she was severely sick at the time the complaint was brought at the women and children protection section on January 20, 2022.
That the victim was staying with her guardian, Amos and her aunty Joana Morton on Camp Johnson road.
That the special agent Ishmael Totemeh of the EPS maintained that the victim narrated to him that she was sexually abused.
That medical report from the Hope for women SGBV one Stop center revealed that the victim did not give history of the sexual abuse perpetrated against her due to her health condition and she was immediately referred to the JFK medical center.
That the victim medical report from Hope for women SGBV one Stop center also revealed old healed laceration tears at 12,1,5,6,11 and redness at 3&9 O’clock position in her vagina and evidence of penetration due to a blunt object.
That victim was admitted at JFK hospital in January 21, 2022 and she pass away on January 24,2022 and her medical report established the following.
History- victim was presented with ten days history of abdominal pain that was associated with anorexia, nausea, post prandial bilious vomiting, fever, progressive abdominal distension with worsening generalized abdominal pain and difficulty breathing.
Physical Examination- victim was conscious and alert in respiratory distress that was evident by nasal flaring and intercostal retractions. Vitals: Temperature 37.6 degree Celsius, pulse: 107b/m; RR-28cy/min.
Pertinent on abdominal exam: distended abdomen that moves poorly with respiration, generalized tenderness with rebound tenderness and guarding with hypoactive bowel sounds.
Another man being investigated for slicing tongue of 17-year-old boy
At the same time, the Liberia National Police is investigating a man, age 25 identified as Darius P. Siryon for allegedly cutting half of the tongue of a 17-year- old boy in the Police Academy community.
Victim whose tongue was allegedly cut from his mouth
The Liberia National Police has arrested and is investigating suspect Dairus P. Siryon, 25, a resident of the Outland Community, Police Academy for alleged Aggravated Assault.
On Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 4:30 PM, complainant Angeline Peabody, 37, of the same residence reported meeting her son, Henry Giddings, 17, lying unconscious in a pool of blood by 2:00 AM after she was informed by the community Chairman and neighbour only identified as Roosevelt.
Darius P. Siryon, who allegedly cut off the tongue of a 17 years old boy
During Police preliminary probe conducted, suspect Siryon told investigators that on Friday, February 4, 2022 at 1:00Am, he was attacked by three unknown persons while on his way from a wake keeping.
He furthered that, they succeeded in taking away his Tecno Pop 5 phone valued at USD120 and his wallet that contained his Liberian citizen ID card plus Four Hundred Twenty Liberian dollars (LRD420).
Suspect Dairus Siryon continued that two of the attackers escaped, while they left victim Henry Giddings in a fist fight with him who later attempted to bite him. According to the suspect, victim Giddings’ tongue mistakenly entered his mouth and he (suspect Siryon) bit it off.
Meanwhile, victim Henry Giddings was rushed to the John F. Kennedy Hospital for medical treatment by his mother, as the suspect remains detained at the National Police headquarters pending prosecution.