Monrovia – Salieu Jalloh is now serving his three years prison term at the Monrovia Central Prison for killing a friend identified as Alpha Jalloh on November 26, 2018, in the township of West Point.
Report by Augustine T. Tweh-00231775524647 / [email protected]
He was sentenced by Criminal Court ‘A’ Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.
“This court says that predicated upon the facts that the defendant has admitted to killing the deceased but out of provocation and mistake, and also in view of the fact that the prosecution has interposed no objection; this court will indeed exercise justice with mercy,” Judge Willie said.
“Accordingly, while the maximum sentence for manslaughter under our law is five years, the court hereby sentenced the defendant to three years imprisonment which began effectively April 2, 2019”.
After the judge ruling, Convict Jallon was seen in the dock (A confined place for a prisoner in court) in a confused mood with tears rolling down his cheek.
According to the ruling, Salieu Jalloh was charged with the crime of murder when the case was first called for trial.
But during the reading of the indictment, defendant Jalloh then pleaded guilty to the crime of manslaughter instead of murder, on grounds that the victim’s (Alpha Jalloh) death was caused by mistake.
The ruling further states that during the trial, convict Jalloh admitted killing the victim mistakenly and prayed the court to exercise justice with mercy in sentencing him.
According to Judge Willie, state prosecutors interposed no objection to convict Jalloh’s pleads for mercy and manslaughter, allowing him to rendered justice with mercy.
“In view, this court says that predicted upon the facts that the defendant has admitted to killing the deceased but out of provocation and mistake, and also in view of the fact the prosecution has interposed no objection; this court will indeed exercise justice with mercy,” an excerpt of the ruling.
Jalloh was indicted by the grand jurors of Montserrado County in November 2018 in the township of West Point, Montserrado County.
According to the indictment, at about 9:00 PM on November 26, 2018, the deceased and his brother Amandou Jalloh were boiling Hatai (Attai) when the defendant choked the deceased, causing him to suffocate.
The indictment further added that prior to the incident, defendant Jalloh had suspected and openly accused the victim of having an affair (love) with his wife.
According to the indictment, “The incident which led to the demise of the deceased was initiated by the defendant, when he began choking the deceased which resulted into the intervention of the deceased brother who used force to have the deceased released from the grip of the defendant; who had refused every attempt by neighbors to have him (defendant) release the deceased.
“That this act angered the defendant who reverted to taking a knife and pursuing the deceased brother who absconded the scene, thereby causing the defendant to revert to attacking the deceased with a black knife.
“The defendant knowingly, purposely, intentional willfully and maliciously attacked and stabbed the victim in his chest, causing him to bleed profusely. The victim was rushed to the JFK Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival”.