Monrovia – The Liberia National Police (LNP) has arrested an 18-year-old man identified as Jonathan Bewere for allegedly killing his friend in the VOA Community, Roberts Field High, Margibi County.
Report by Augustine T. Tweh – [email protected]
According to the police charge sheet, suspect Bewere, now defendant, was charged with negligent homicide and forwarded to court for carelessly causing the death of victim Junior Dean with a single barrel gun while attempting to open the loaded weapon.
“In violation of Chapter 14, Subchapter A, Section 14.3 of the reversed Penal Law of Liberia, defendant Jonathan Bewere was arrested, acquainted with his constitutional rights, investigated and charged with Negligent Homicide for carelessly causing the death of victim Junior Dean with a single barrel shot while attempting to open a loaded weapon he was not trained to,” LNP Charged Sheet slated.
The LNP investigations further detail that the victim was employed by a neighbor named Mrs. Marie J. Grimes as a driver, while defendant (Jonathan Bewere) was living with her (Mrs. Grimes) as his guardian prior to the incident.
The charge sheet added that the arm was acquired by Mr. Grimes for the protection of his family after armed robbers broke into their home, leaving him severely wounded on his head and other parts of his body.
“On the night of March 5, 2018 at about 21:00 hours, Mrs. Grimes came from work, forgot her keys and asked victim Dean and defendant Bewere to break the lock of the door. After breaking the door, victim dean and defendant Bewere were seen at the porch of the boy’s quarters accordingly joking with one another while in possession of the gun. Both were attempting to open the gun when it fired, and the pellets of the shot entered the left side of the victim’s head,” the investigation reveals.
Police investigators also established that there has been no registration document obtained from the Grimes’ family for possessing the arm.
“There is no registration document of the arm, since the owner of the house, Mr. Grimes has been flown out of the country to the Republic of India to seek brain surgery after it was diagnosed that blood and fluid were entering his head due to the wound that affected his skull from the armed robber attack”
The charge sheet adds: “In view of the forgoing circumstances, coupled with evidence adduced, as well as the physical examination conducted on the body and witnesses’ account, the investigation has resolved to charge suspected Jonathan Bewere (now defendant) with the crime of Negligent Homicide, in violation of Chapter 14, Subchapter A, Section 14.3 of the Penal Code of the Republic of Liberia, pending court trial”
Chapter 14, Section 14.3 of the Liberia Penal Code states that: “A person is guilty of negligent homicide (Recklessly causing the death of another human being) if he causes the death of another human being negligently. Negligent homicide is a felony of the third degree”
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