–Says Former EPS Officer Admitted To Shooting
By: Jacqueline L. Dennis
IPNEWS-Monrovia: An officer of the Crime Services Department and Homicide, of the Liberia National Police Jerry K. Wamah along with his team that investigated Patrick Kollie July 4, 2022 of this year, testified as Prosecution fourth (4) witness on Monday December 5, 2022, in the ongoing alleged Murder Case before Judge Roosevelt Willie of the Criminal Court “A” said defendant Kollie during the investigation admitted of shooting.
Witness Wamah, while on the direct examination by prosecution said during their investigation defendant Partick Kollie admitted of firing his arm but explained that he was attacked by alleged criminal and they were tussling over his firearm when the gun discharged.
The witness further informed the Court that the defendant Kollie, was arrested, investigated and subsequently charged for the crime of Murder for purposely, knowingly, intentionally shooting behind alleged suspect. He stated while in that process an approaching motorbike with people riding on it was coming when the gun that was discharged, a nuregor pistol, shot hit the approaching motorbike affecting the victim, Valentine Johnson.
According to him, on July 4, 2022 information reached the crime services department regarding the incident and a team of Homicide investigators led by him visited the crime scene at the National Police Academy junction in Paynesville city, where the victim Valentine was lying on the ground, photos were taken and the victim was taken at the JFK medical hospital and upon arrival at the hospital doctor pronounced him dead.
He also stated that it was established that defendant Kollie, who was not on duty least to even mention at an assignment area, was on his way home at the Police Academy community where he came across an alleged criminal that tried to molest him to impede his movement in that process, the defendant went into his white vehicle pick-up his assigned weapon nuregor pistol and as soon the alleged criminal spotted him picking his arm from his vehicle they took to their heels, during which time defendant Patrick realized that he had wrongfully hit the wrong person. He got in his car and fled from the scene going towards Police Academy community to the road that heads to the SKD Boulevard.
Witness Wamah, also said during their investigation it was also established that defendant Kollie’s gun shot that he fired fire hit the victim Valentine at the upper left of his face and the bullet exited from the back of his head, succumbing to his death, adding defendant Kollie was in frequent violation of the fourth Cardinal rule of fire arms that state “beware of your target and what is beyond your target”.
He further explained, on the cross examination that defendant Kollie after the incident, the defendant fled the scene, and he did not come directly to the police, he went to a friend EPS officer and he was brought to the police by his EPS friend and that how he was arrested.
According to him, his EPS officer friend carried Patrick along with his arm to the police station where they took the series number, and the gun was given to their senior supervisor and their supervisor said they should make photo copy. “And the gun was turned over to the EPS, so if the EPS is asked to produce the arm they will produce it.”
When asked by Judge Willie “Mr. witness I will go back to one of two persons question on the jury bench you as experienced officers according to you one of the friends of the EPS brought the defendant to the police station and you are telling the court and the jury that you turned the gun over to the person without recording the name or position within in the entity?” The witness answered and said they were advised by their supervisor, indicating his supervisor gave the advice and he could not argue.
It can be recalled on July 4, 2022 of this year, a former EPS officer Partick Kollie was arrested by the Liberia National Police for his alleged involvement in connection to an alleged shooting incident that led to the death of Valentine Johnson victim.
Defendant Patrick Kollie was indicated by the grand jurors for Montserrado County for the alleged crime of Murder. And the indictment was read to him by the clerk of the court and he pleaded not guilty to the alleged crime.
The indictment said, that after defendant Kollie realized that he had wrongfully hit Valentine Johnson, defendant got in his vehicle speedily left the crime scene and went towards the SKD Boulevard and passed through Police Academy without any sense of reverse, when denied control values, there and then the crime of Murder defendant Patrick Kollie did and committed.
The indictment said that defendant Patrick Kollie’s action clearly shows that he were in frequent violation of rules 4 of the basis trail arm tactical move that state beware of the target and what is beyond the target. Hearing into the case continues today at the Criminal Court “A” with another witness taking the stand from the JFK medical hospital.
