-As Court finds three alleged suspects not guilty
BY: Shallon S. Gonlor
NIMBA COUNTY: A jury in three defendants’ high-profile criminal trial at the 8th Judicial Circuit Court in Sanniquellie, Nimba County, has found the men not guilty for the death of a 25-year-old woman in Nengbeyee Town, an outskirt of Ganta City.
The three defendants released included the deceased’s boyfriend, Levi Yasia, 45, Lawrence Gono, 36, and Sampson Dolo, 35, a motorcyclist. They were indicted for the alleged commission of the crime of murder and criminal conspiracy in connection with the killing of Ms. Yourg Cooper, 25.
The unanimous not guilty verdict returned by the jury from their room of deliberation drew mixed reactions inside the courtroom, including applause. But minutes after the verdict was read and recorded, the deceased’s children and family members broke down in tears outside of the courthouse, stating that the jury had let them down in deep mourning.
Early this year, Ms. Yourg Cooper, who had reportedly gone on her coal farm along with her children, was gruesomely killed, making the discovery of her body even more distressing, as the farm was some distance away from the crime scene. Ms. Cooper’s lifeless body was discovered lying in a pour of blood on her farm road while being tied to a pole and stiffed multiple times, something that resulted in her death.
In connection to the killing, the Ministry of Justice, through its County Attorney in Nimba, arrested and indicted the three suspects, including Levi Yasiah, 45 (boyfriend of the deceased), Lawrence Gono, 34, and Sampson Dolo, 38. The prosecution said the boyfriend, Levi Yarsia, called the lady on the phone to meet him at a certain location and was sliced to death upon arrival. Ms. Cooper’s body was discovered behind Nengbeyee, on the road to Pledehyee, with a deep cut to her throat.
The jury verdict was reached on Monday, December 9, 2024, after both the prosecution and defense lawyers rested and presented their species of evidence in the case, as well as the court charge to the jury based on facts and the law.
