Monrovia – Police investigation into the murder of Journalist Tyron Browne reveals that former police chief, Col. Chris Massaquoi, was deeply in the know of the murder, contrary to his initial claims.
Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo, [email protected]
Col. Massaquoi told police investigators last Friday that the main suspect, Jonathan Williams, had gone to his house, and confessed the murder to him, pleading with him to be his lawyer.
Massaquoi in a telephone interview with FrontPageAfrica said his meeting with the suspect on Friday was his first, stating he had never met Jonathan prior to his sudden visit at his home last Friday.
However, the police investigation has established that after the deceased was stabbed twice by Williams, the culprit called and explained the incident via mobile phone to his brother, Daniel Socree, who few minutes later drove in Williams’ compound with Col. Massaquoi.
“They both saw the body and had secret discussion with defendant William and immediately when the two men left, defendant Williams placed the body in the car with the help of Ceasar Kennedy and Ernest Kermue (at large) and dumped it along the Kingdom care rod,” the investigative report stated.
Socree is said to have flown out of the country immediately after the incident.
Police sources told FrontPageAfrica Tuesday that investigation is still open and Massaquoi could be re-invited to assist with investigation, if the need arises.
A security at the home of Col. Massaquoi, Newton Stewart, told FPA that Williams went to the home of the former police chief to seek audience with him, but while the security was trying to confirm with Col. Massaquoi, Williams walked past him and went into the living room where Massaquoi met him and they had a brief discussion.
Col. Massaquoi, in a telephone interview, told FrontPageAfrica it was during that meeting Williams admitted the murder to him and requested that he (Massaquoi) represents him as his lawyer.
It was after that meeting that Col. Massaquoi called the police and showed Williams’ whereabouts.
But critics have found this explanation rather confusing with many questioning how suspect Williams would be able to walk directly into the living room of Col. Massaquoi, if he wasn’t familiar with the house.
The police investigation says after dumping the body, Williams and his accomplices, returned to the house at which time he ordered the burning of the plastic in which the corpse was wrapped.
The investigation also established that though Williams said he stabbed the deceased in self-defense, the deceased had no weapon on him during his encounter with Williams.
According to police investigators, they found bloodstains believed to be human blood in an Infiniti QX4 vehicle that belongs to Williams.
Co-defendants Joana, Alice, Edwina, and Massa, according to the police concealed information about the murder of the late Liberian journalist.
The police say the actions by defendant Williams were premeditated as he came out of his room with a knife and following the murder he criminally transported and dumped the deceased body.
The defendants are currently spending their first night at Monrovia Central Prison.
Suspect Jonathan Williams was charged with murder; Alice Youti, Joana Bracewell, Edwina Youti were both charged with hindering law enforcement; Ernest Kermue and Caesar Bill Kennedy were charged with criminal facilitation to commit murder and hindering law enforcement.
His alleged accomplices were handcuffed while being escorted to the court from the police headquarters, but the alleged murderer walked freely with hands swinging.
The defendants received maximum protection from the police who escorted them from the Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice to the Monrovia Central Prison.
It was also a tearful moment for some relatives who had gone to the court to show sympathy.
Oretha Browne, a relative of the deceased expressed gratitude to the police for the work done so far as she wishes for a speedy trial to give her paternal nephew justice.
“Today, it seems all like a dream to see my brother’s son being murdered for something that we don’t know about, but whatever he was murdered for, all we want is justice and that justice is only successful if the state prosecutes all those involved,” Oretha said.
Augustine Johnson, a friend of defendant Massa said, “I am surprised that she is involved in this, but whatever it is, I hope she clears her name through the court system; but I just feel bad that she will get her hand in things like this.”