‘No sign of murder’

The Liberia National Police in Monrovia has disclosed that the bodies of seven year-old Rubben Paye and four year-old Alvin Moses showed “no signs of being brutally urdered,” concluding that the children “died from asphyxiation (suffocation)” due to the lack of oxygen in the vehicle.

The kids were found dead in an abandoned vehicle in the VOA Community, off the Robertsfield Highway on 2 December, having gone missing the previous day. The incident resulted to the looting and burning of the home and four vehicles of a Nigerian national, Mr. Henry O. Nandi, in whose premises the bodies were discovered.

But a day after women advocates blocked streets here in demand of justice on several issues, including the children’s death and the girl, who earlier died in police cell, Police Director Chris C. Massaquoi issued preliminary findings, indicating that “all the body parts of the two children are intact” and showed no sign of murder.

Mr. Massaquoi said the vehicle in which the kids were found had inside locks, and openers damaged or absent. He indicated further that police investigation established that the two children died accidentally, and that the police did not have evidence to link Mr. Henry O. Nnadi.

“Meanwhile, the Police, in consultation with the coroner of Montserrado County, has been informed that the result of the coroner inquest also showed that the deaths of the children were accidental and/or not suspicious,” he added. Already, he noted, eight suspects – Raymond Brown, Stephen Wilson, Dubon Logan, Augustine Gbarpue, mmanuel Diggs, Eric Karty, Lassana Kannah and Micheal Horace, have been charged and awaiting court prosecution due to the mob action that resulted to the burning of Mr. Nnadi’s house and destruction of his properties.

As to the death of a female, Victoria Zayzay in Police custody at Zone 6, depot 1, Director Massaquoi said police had been informed by the Ministry of Justice that autopsy has been completed and awaiting the findings. He recalled that the 21-year-old was alone in a female cell at Zone Six, Depot One on the Hotel Africa Road Community, 20th of October for simple assault and criminal mischief following investigation of a complaint filed by one Mammie Morris – a resident of the same address.

But according to him, the victim was discovered unconscious hours later in the cell with her lapper tied from the cell gate around her neck.

He said the victim was sitting flat on the floor and leaning against the gate, and bending over with her head resting on her chest with thick fluid oozing from her mouth.“She was hurriedly removed from the cell, rushed to the Redemption Hospital for medical attention where she was pronounced dead on arrival (DOA) by medical authority,” he added. He revealed that the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice, brought into the country a foreign Pathologist from the Republic of Ghana to conduct an autopsy to establish the cause(s) of death.

“We have been informed by the Ministry of Justice that the autopsy has been completed and waiting the findings. The police wish to assure the general public that it attaches serious concern to this matter and a comprehensive investigation is ongoing pending the outcome of the autopsy report,” Massaquoi said.

In another development, the police announced the arrest of suspect Alfred Lablah, commonly known as “Poyul,” wanted in connection with a streak of armed robberies. Suspect Poyul, along with his band of robbers, has allegedly been waging series of robberies in Paynesville, Bushrod Island and Brewerville communities.

“He has confessed his involvement in the robbery at the home of Mr. Cletus Wotorson on 17th November, 2015,” police said.

The Liberia National Police is in search of his accomplices to include James Harris, alias “CO or wolf;” Boakai Kengo, alias “Jeddie;” “Body
Prince” and Matthew Mah, alia “five star”-Edited by George Barpeen