New Democrat (Monrovia)
Joe K. Roberts
13 October 2009
Pressure continues to mount for speedy investigations into the death of Rivercess businessman, James Berry, 46, whose bartered body was found around the SKD Sports Complex Community in the early morning hours of Friday, September 18.
But police only told this paper Monday: "...the body has been deposited at the JFK Hospital awaiting autopsy to establish cause of death."
But the wife of the slain man, Sunday-Way Gbacon, flanked by family members told this paper that she was getting frustrated over the undue slow pace of police investigation since the death of her husband almost one month ago.
She said one of the last persons who saw her husband was Rep. Jerry Bowier Massah (R'Cess-Dist. #2-UP), the man she said owed her husband LD26, 000.00. The Rep had repaid LD8, 000.00, leaving a balance of LD18, 000.00, she added.
In tears, Sunday-Way told this paper that Rep. Massah told family members few days ago on the Old Road that the last time he had seen Berry was on Tuesday, September 15.
But according to Sunday-Way, an eyewitness saw her husband at the Rep. Massah's Thinkers Village home two days later on Thursday, September 17 at a birthday party held by Rep. Massah. The next day Friday, September 18, Berry's bartered body was found near the SKD Sports Stadium. He had been flogged mercilessly to death.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2009 New Democrat. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
Two points. Firstly, it is gratifying to note in this story that the family and GOL have agreed to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death in this case. This is something that should be encouraged in most other instances of deaths in Liberia, which causes the authorities or families don't ever get to know. Most deaths in Liberia are almost always attributed to "something" or someone, real or imagined. But essentially for our own advancement, it is always good to know what caused some of these deaths, so that we as a natkion may learn to prevent similar things from happening to others in the future, or devise strategies and methods to combat them whenever they strike again. Such is supposed to be standing practice with every hospital in Liberia for every "unknown" and suspicous death.
Secondly, not just because the victim in this case was last seen at the home of this representative so he now becomes a suspect, in my layman view. Not suggesting in any way he should not be investigated too, but for the family to now believe that because of this reason the representative should be prime suspect, is far-fetched to me. Did the police or family inquire of others who were at this function whether anyone witnessed any harsh exchange at any point between the deceased and the representative during the course of this event? Did the police inspect the vehicle(s) belonging to the representative for any blood stain that may be related to the victm's? Is it possible that when the victim left the party he may have been mugged by hoodlums who came across him in the wee hours by himself around the vicinity he was discovered? And is this incident isolated or possible in present day Liberia, without some "invisible" hands being involved necessarily as suspected? What's about the personal effects of the deceased, like his wallet, wrist watch, and other valuables, were they still on his person at discovering him? These are just few questions that readily come to mind for clarification before people begin to point fingers at others in these criminal cases. I am no lawyer, just a social worker with keen, open mind to issues of this nature which sometimes have national ramification. Thank you for the time and attetion and may God continue to bless the works of your hands as you endeavour to inform and enlighten us.
Sincerely,
Josiah Anderson