Killler Dads and Custody Lists

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Dad gets life sentence for murder of 9-month-old son (Zorzor, Liberia)

  1. Dad JERRY MULBAH has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his 9-month-old son. Like many of these cases--whether in the U.S. or elsewhere--Dad had a history of abuse against the baby's mother. When the mother left him, Dad made a great pretense of a reconcilation. But it was just a pretense. His real motive was to hurt/punish the mother in the worst possible way--by murdering her child. 

http://theinquirer.com.lr/story.php?record_id=3032&sub=14

Father Sentenced To Life Imprisonment...For Son's Murder In Lofa County

“I am looking up to the government for justice but as to the death of my only son, I'm innocent,” convict Jerry Mulbah cried out at the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Lofa following a unanimous 'guilty' judgment by Judge Emmanuel Kollie. Judge Kollie last Thursday upheld, confirmed and affirmed unanimous jury verdict of guilty against defendant Mulbah who is accused of murdering his only son, Amos Mulbah in Zorzor. However, defense has except to the court's judgment and announced an appeal to the Supreme Court sitting in its October term. According to the case history, defendant Mulbah had been allegedly cruel to his fiancée Nyemah Dukulu who lived with him on Amos Yancy Farm in Bong Mines for three years. It was based on his alleged maltreatment that she left with their son for Lofa County on June 24, 2010.

In her testimony, Nyemah told the court and jury that Jerry followed them to Zorzor on June 25, 2010 where he apologized and she accepted him again but on June 28, 2010, defendant Mulbah allegedly stole his nine-month old child while asleep at night. The court's records state that in witnesses' testimonies it was alleged that Nyemah upon noticing that her child was not arond, began a search only to find her child dead with his neck fractured or broken.

The prosecution evidences included a medical report from Curran Lutheran Hospital in Zorzor; a 15-member corona juror report; photograph of the deceased when he was found dead on one of the rubber farms along the highway. With Jury nowhere to be found, investigators began their work and according to the records, the defendant was arrested on July 25 in Bong County. On August 12, 2010 his indictment was drawn and read to him on August 13, 2010 to which he answered not guilty.

The state produced three witnesses and defense produced only the defendant. It was observed that at some points of the defense witness' testimony, the State gave notice to the court to produce rebuttal witnesses but did not introduce any during the trial of the case. Prosecution was represented by the county attorney Luther J. Sumo while the defendant was represented by Tobey J. Raynes and R. Koryon Bolay. Following the jury's verdict, defense immediately filed for retrial.

The defense counsels' four count motion for retrial contained that the verdict be denied because there was no proof that defendant Mulbah murdered little Amos. Defense argued that the jurors did not follow the judge's charge to them regarding the laws of contradiction and failure to rebut.

Defense argued that the private prosecutor's testimony varied and contradicted that of the CID officer with regards to that of the others residing in the house as to whether the defendant supported his child and fiancée. It further contended that the verdict is completely contrary to the weight of the evidence. In the defendant's plea of an alibi requested the court for a subpoena but was never issued nor did the State exert any effort to prove that the defendant was present at the time of the crime of murder as required by law.

However, citing the new judiciary law Section 20:11(2), prosecution said the motion should be dismissed and denied because little Amos was murdered willingly and intentionally. It further said that the verdict was in no way contrary to the weight of the evidences because the movant was accorded the due process. Having listened to the court, Defendant Mulbah prayed that the law takes alternative so that he too can understand how his only son died.

Meanwhile, presently, the Voinjama Central Prison which lies in a deplorable condition has a record of 29 at large inmates while 10 who were already sentenced are also at large due to the February 26, 2010 incident. The prison compound with just one building that houses six criminal cell divisions, a charge of quarter and a superintendent's office suffer from leakages during the rains and it is very dark due to lack of electricity.

Already there are a total of 48 inmates consisting of 38 males, two females and four juveniles. The prison is opened to insecurity as it is not fenced in and visitors go there without regarding the visiting hours.