-For Allegedly Killing Princess Zuo
By Jerromie S. Walters
Bill Jallah, 38, has been formally charged with the murder of Princess Zuo by the Monrovia City Court. He faces serious charges, including murder, attempted murder, and aggravated assault. Following his arrest, Jallah was been remanded to the Monrovia Central Prison, where he will await trial.
However, many Liberians express uncertainty about the case, reflecting on previous instances of violence that resulted in death or severe injuries. Gender-based violence and limited access to justice are common concerns in Liberia. Past rulings have often failed to satisfy public expectations.
A Flashback
In a case many labeled a travesty of justice, Criminal Court B acquitted Lucas Richard on April 17, 2024, in an attempted murder case involving Jessica Lloyd. Richard, the Executive Director of Administration at the Indigenous Mission TIM, Inc., faced charges for attempting to murder Lloyd on September 19, 2023.
Magistrate John L. Griggs revealed that Richard had inflicted wounds on Lloyd but later stated that her legal team did not provide sufficient evidence for a guilty verdict. Consequently, the court exonerated him.
Another troubling case is that of Princess Cooper, whose lifeless body was found near the ELWA Junction on March 24, 2022. The family rejected an autopsy report claiming tuberculosis was the cause of death. They called for a second autopsy by an impartial doctor.
Family members asserted they did not receive justice. They claimed government interference hindered a legitimate investigation, a statement the government repeatedly denied.
LNP Probe
On Friday, the Liberia National Police conducted a thorough investigation into the incident. They charged Jallah for the death of Princess Zuo and the assault on Kormassa Jallah, which occurred on December 21, 2024, in Paynesville. These charges fall under Chapters 14 and 10 of the Revised Penal Law of Liberia, specifically Sections 14.1, 14.20, and 10.1.
The Liberia National Police (LNP) reported that on December 20, Princess Zuo went out with friends, angering Bill Jallah. The charge sheet indicates Jallah was upset when Zuo did not answer his calls that evening. The next day, she confronted him at her workplace and called his father, William Jallah, to complain.
“Victim Princess Zuo phoned Mr. William Jallah, the father of defendant Bill Jallah, and informed him about Bill’s attitude at her workplace,” the police report states. “Mr. Jallah immediately instructed his daughter, Kormassa Jallah, to inform the rest of the family about the complaint.”
Later that evening, Kormassa joined Zuo and Jallah at the Fast Nikel Entertainment Center to mediate. Witnesses reported that Jallah bought drinks, but the conversation quickly escalated. He accused Zuo of disrespecting him by going out without informing him.
“While sitting, defendant Bill Jallah initiated an argument and or confusion with victim Princess Zuo, referencing why she went out with her friends… without his knowledge and refused to respond to his call via phone,” the charge sheet states.
The situation intensified when Zuo, visibly upset, left the entertainment center for Duport Junction. Kormassa followed to apologize for Jallah’s behavior, but he pursued them. “Defendant Bill Jallah left the entertainment center and hurriedly followed,” the report reads. Moments later, Jallahattacked Zuo with a knife, inflicting fatal wounds.
Witnesses alerted the police after the attack, and Jallah was arrested shortly thereafter. Investigators confirmed the timeline through witness statements, physical evidence, and Zuo’sinjuries. The charge sheet noted that family members had attempted to intervene in their troubled relationship, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
GBV in Liberia
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive issue in Liberia and a major concern for women’s rights. In 2023, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection reported 3,204 cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). A staggering 83% of those cases involved survivors under 20.
Existing Instruments
As many grapple with the aftermath of this violence, questions remain about the circumstances leading to such a tragic conclusion. Princess Zuo’s death has also brought to light several other acts of violence against women and girls.
The legal framework addressing such violence is outlined in the Penal Law – Title 26 – Liberian Code of Laws Revised. It states that “A person is guilty of murder if he: (a) Purposely or knowingly causes the death of another human being; or (b) Causes the death of another human being under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.”
