By Solomon T.Gaye
/NIMBA
The 8th Judicial Circuit Court has handed down a guilty verdict against defendants Abu Weamie, an Ivorian national and Samuel Gaye, a Liberian for armed robbery.
Speaking over the weekend in Sanniquellie, the presiding Judge, Suah, said the suspects were charged with armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault and theft of property that led to the wounding of Harris N .Kerkulah in a shootout in Gompa.
According to Judge Suah, the court records revealed that Kerkulah, a money exchanger is a resident of Gompa saying, “the suspects carried out another armed robbery in Saclepea, where he shot a Nigerian business man and made away with 32 pieces of motorbike tyres valued at US$ 3, 665 along with LR$12,000.”
“The court, having listened to both parties, realized that the defendant is liable for the crimes as charged and is found guilty by jurors’ trial in line with the constitution.” Judge Suah pointed out.
Weamie and Gaye were arrested in 2023 by some ERU officers in Gompa in the wake of increased armed robbery that led to the murder of Nimba County team player Sabu Yeanay in a mob violence in Gompa.
Police preliminary investigation in 2023 revealed that the late Yeanay joined Gaye and Weamie to allegedly attack money changer Kerkulah, but Yeanay became victimized as he was killed by the angry crowd.
The defendants were represented by a team of public defenders while the team of prosecutors was headed by county attorney John Miah.
“Upon the verdict of the jurors on March 17, 2025 , chapter . 23. 2. this court upon the verdict confirmed , affirmed , and convicted the defendant in joint session , if the defendants are convicted , judgment should be granted and sentence pronounced,” Judge Pape Suah ruled.
“We take this time to announce to this court that we take an appeal to the supreme court on the court ruling , the clerk of court should write the official letter to the prison superintendent in Zwedru that suspects are not convicts ,” the public defenders team stated .
