By Moses J. Dawoe/Southeast Correspondent
Four men have been charged and forwarded to the Harper City Magisterial Court in connection to the death of a local resident, authorities confirmed Friday.
The Liberia National Police (LNP) Maryland County Detachment charged Sabastine Wilson, Joseph Y. Wilson, Joseph D. Wilson, and Francis M. Harris; all 29 years old, with murder, criminal facilitation, criminal solicitation, and criminal conspiracy. According to the police charge sheet dated March 19, 2025 the suspects have been charged in accordance with Liberia’s Penal Code (Sections 14.1, 10.2, 10.3, and 10.4), (Case No. HP-64-2025).
Authorities say the case stems from an incident on March 17, 2025, when Maryland County police received a distress call from Rock Town Township Commissioner, George Appleton, at approximately 3:13 p.m. local time. Appleton reported that a man later identified as Himmie Freeman, a resident of Middle Town in Harper District had been found unconscious along a road leading from Middle Town to Rock Town.
A team of joint security officers, led by Superintendent Frederick T. Smith Jr., Chief Investigator of the Crime Services Department (CSD) of the Liberia National Police, responded to the scene to assess the situation. Upon arrival, police confirmed Appleton’s report and detained eight individuals for questioning.
During interrogations, police informed the suspects of their ‘Miranda right’ to legal representation.
On March 19, Cllr. Dominick Sworh, a former journalist and now Public Defender at the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in Harper City, was called to represent them.
According to police, Cllr. Sworh initially met with the suspects but failed to return the following day for unknown reasons.
While the suspects denied any involvement, four key witnesses Samuel Appleton (19), Alpha Wilson (16), Gabriel M. Walker (19), and John Bolen (21); provided accounts of the events. According to police, the witnesses admitted to beating Freeman, leading to his death.
Further investigations have revealed that some of the suspects accused Freeman of being a wizard and claimed they were attempting to drive him out of the town.
However, in the process of doing so, they fatally assaulted him, according to the police charge sheet.
Given the findings of the investigation, authorities proceeded with formal charges and transferred the four primary suspects to Harper City Court under heavy security escort. They have since been remanded at Harper Central Prison, pending pretrial proceedings.
