Monrovia – The family members of the late Charloe Musu, who reportedly died in an armed robbery attack at the home of former Liberian Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott, are requesting the government to turn over the deceased body for proper burial.
By Jaheim T. Tumu
Charloe died on Wednesday, February 22, in the town of Virginia, and her death was the subject of wide suspicion between pro-government and opposition groups.
Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Koijee, was seriously linked to the death as fingers were pointed to a security employee of the City Corporation named Varlee Tralee who many believe carried out the attack on the home of the former Justice Scott as a result of an order from Koijee which led to the death of Charloe.
Speaking during a press conference, Nathaniel Toe, an uncle to the deceased, said the family has communicated to the government to relinquish the body of the victim.
Said Toe, “Hon. Minister, the object of this request is to bury Charloe so that her body and remains will be finally laid to rest with the decency, dignity, honor, and respect she deserves and in keeping with our tradition and custom; considering the violent and gruesome nature of her death.”
Mr. Toe said that the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has refused to publish the Coroner’s Report (which is to investigate and make findings about unnatural, sudden, or suspicious deaths) as requested from the family since February 27.
According to him, the family requested the publication of the report because the Chairman of the Coalition for Democratic Change accused Justice Gloria Scott of the death of Charloe Musu and they insisted an autopsy be conducted.
He disclosed the family was denied entrance to the mortuary on the instructions of the government to avoid the body being tampered with.
Said Toe, “The coroner report, the family has been requesting for it because the publication set the bases of scientific investigation but up to today the family has not gotten said report.”
“The Ministry of Justice said within two weeks they were going to provide the autopsy report or the coroner inquest but until now the family has been wondering why the report has not been published.”
Suspicion of Pathologist
Dwede Musu, aunt to the deceased, questioned the independence of the government-appointed pathologist, Dr. Benedict Kolee, who she said was not cooperative with the four family members in the mortuary during the autopsy.
According to her, when Dr. Kolee and his colleague were conducting the autopsy and providing the statistics on the cause of death, she began to whisper to one of the family members responsible for taking notes.
Ms. Musu stated the pathologist got furious and started acquiring on what they were doing.
“He asked if we were taking down notes, and we said yes. He told us it was not necessary.”
She added, “That note that you are taking down, if I am finished, I will compare it with my own. Maybe my own will not be correct.”
Also speaking, J. Wodemle Elliott, uncle to the deceased, said they were told that late Charloe died as a result of a deep wound that touched her lung, as per what was said by Dr. Kolee.
He disclosed that there were many bruises on the deceased body, including her back and neck.
He further disclosed there was a major cut at the back of the late Charloe’s head.
However, when Frontage Africa contacted the Liberia National Police and the Ministry of Justice, they could not give any response regarding the situation.
