By Grace Q. Bryant
The Liberia National Police (LNP) has forwarded Liston B. Yekeh to court for allegedly killing his girlfriend Samelia Darlene Fuller in the Soul Clinic Community.
Yekeh was on Tuesday, January 24 dragged to court for several crimes including Possession and sale of Physical Object for Lethal use (Possession of Firearm), and Manslaughter, in Violations of Chapters 14 & 17, Sections 14. 2 & 17.11 of the New Penal Law of the Republic of Liberia, pending court trial.
According to the police investigation, the circumstances surrounding the death of the deceased, it was revealed that on Monday, January 2, she, along with her boyfriend Yekeh (accused) and others from the community went on Duport Road to celebrate the New Year’s Holiday but stayed out until 12:00AM, at which time they returned to the Soul Clinic Community at another entertainment center and spent additional time, and decided retiring home.
“They got to the deceased parents residence and having spent about 30 minutes, defendant Yekeh requested for his belongings to go home with his waist bag and jacket which were given him by Joyce Darjue, older sister,” the police charge sheet revealed.
According to the police charge sheet, when the defendant received his items in the presence of everyone, defendant Yekeh took a single barrel short gun (pistol) which he held in his hand which instilled fear in his friends, but decided to open the gun to show them that the gun had no shot in it.
In that process, the gun fired and hit the deceased standing in the opposite direction and fell on the ground bleeding profusely from her neck.
The charge sheet stated that after the incident, the deceased was immediately placed over a motor bike and rushed to a nearby hospital (Benson Hospital) but was referred to the John F. Kennedys Medical Hospital where she was pronounced dead by doctors upon arrival.
“The body was thereafter preserved at the J.F.K Morgue where external examinations were carried out by Homicide Detectives and its Forensic counter parts, along with the Head of the Montserrado County’s Coroner,” police investigators disclosed.
Police charge sheet indicated that during the external examinations, single barrel gun’s entries and gunpowder residue were observed on the deceased neck precisely under the chin; adding that no exit wound(s) was observed.
During police investigation with defendant Yekeh regarding his involvement in the death of Fuller, defendant Yekeh decided to remain silent in the absence of his lawyer.
Investigators said, witnesses who were present revealed through their testimonies that the incident happened as a result of mistake.
Eye witnesses disclosed that they were all happy, celebrating the New Year’s Holiday together with the late Fuller and her boyfriend (defendant Yekeh) doing everything in common; they did not notice any misunderstanding or confusion between them until everyone of them went back home.
The deceased body has since been turned over to her bereaved family by the head of the Montserrado County Coroner based upon request for funeral arrangements.