Gboko Stewart, gboko90@gmail.com
Monrovia – The alleged murder of John Hilary Tubman, son of former Liberian President, William V.S. Tubman, by Christian Byron Anderson, Emmanuel M. Forkey, and Aloysius Garblah was meticulously planned and orchestrated, according to a copy of the indictment by the Grand Jurors of Montserrado County which was obtained by journalRAGE.
The trio, according to the indictment, is being charged with two counts of murder and criminal conspiracy which carry a lengthy sentence, ranging from death to life imprisonment as provided in sections 50.5 and 51.3. (c) of the Penal Law.
Though the defendants have admitted to the commission of the crime, it is not known whether they have pled guilty to save them from a trial. Defense lawyers could not be reached for comment. The office of the Minister of Justice, Frank Musa Dean, was unavailable for a comment, but multiple highly placed sources in the Ministry confirmed the veracity of the indictment in possession of journalRAGE.
Info on the commencement of the trial is still under the wraps as Minister Dean’s office could not be reached for comment.
John H. Tubman, 76, was found murdered in his home on September 21, 2021. His gory death as well as the sketchy and lurid details then surrounding his killing sent jitters across the country and in the underground lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, bellowing cries of insecurity.
He was believed to be gay.
His murder mounted acute public pressure on the Liberia National Police to bring his killers to book. And following what appeared to be an initial sloppy handling, dilly-dallying, shilly-shallying, and sharp contradictions by the Ministry of Justice and the LNP, law enforcement authorities released the photos of two brothers – Christian Byron Anderson and William V.S. Anderson – who were allegedly linked to the commission of the crime.
A massive public manhunt was launched by the Police, and following weeks of intense searching, the duo was caught alongside an accomplice nestled in River Cess County.
At a press conference in Monrovia following their capture, the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, Patrick Sudue, announced that Christian Byron Anderson, following his arrest and preliminary investigations, admitted to murdering Tubman. Anderson was also arrested alongside Aloysious Garblah at the home of the latter’s parents.
According to Sudue, the motives surrounding the death were unclear. But during a snappy interview with a shabbily dressed Anderson, 29, which was hurriedly shut down by Police spokesman, Moses Carter, he alleged he was molested by Tubman.
William V.S. Anderson, younger brother of Christian Byron Anderson, was let off the hook as he didn’t have any link to the commission of the crime, according to Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue.
How was Tubman’s murder planned?
While the motives around Tubman’s death continue to be illusory as the Police have since remained coy, the grisly murder was hatched by Christian Byron Anderson in the Rehab community of Paynesville, the indictment revealed.
“That the criminal act of the defendant that led to the death of the deceased took place after the three defendants met on diverse occasions, in the Reb [Rehab] Community of Paynesville and planned to proceed to the residence of the deceased after they were convinced by Co-Defendant Christian Byron Brown [Anderson] for them to go to his boss man(Deceased) residence in Sinkor, Monrovia to robe [rob] him.”
According to the indictment, Anderson, reportedly a distant relative of Tubman, had been formerly in his employ giving him a distinct knowledge of the ins and outs of the residence of John Hilary Tubman to carry out the alleged grisly act.
“…As such he led the other two Co-Defendants to the deceased’s residence on the night of September 22, 2021, where they arrived during sunset.”
The Tubman family continues to deny Christian Byron Anderson and William V.S. Anderson as distant relatives of John Hilary Tubman.
The Grand Jurors’ indictment furthered that when the deceased arrived at Tubman’s residence in Fiamah, they purchased sausages and poisoned them with tobacco, and fed it to the dogs guarding the residence to have unfettered access to carry out the alleged act.
“That after poisoning the dogs during nightfall, they entered the deceased’s yard and concealed themselves in the basement of the deceased’s compound where they remain[ed] until the deceased came down as he has always done, to lock the gates to his compound.”
The men remained hidden until the aging Tubman fell asleep, according to the indictment. “Thereafter, they moved into his bedroom and physically attacked him, while at the same time chopping him with a cutlass and having realized that the deceased had gone unconscious, they looted cash and personal belonging, including mobile phones, laptops, DVD, foodstuffs, among other and then fled the scene and were arrested in River Cess County after some two months.”
While the motives around Tubman’s death continue to be circumstantial, observers have not failed to rule out that his sexuality may have played a role in his murder.
His death sparked questions about the disappearance of Dominic Renner and Winston Toe in September and October 2020 respectively. Renner and Toe’s disappearance has been linked to Cheeseman Cole, an ex-soldier of the Armed Forces of Liberia who reportedly used Facebook to “catfish” over 27 men he suspected of being gay.
LGBTQ Liberians continue to face widespread threats, assault, harassment, and hate speech, according to the 2020 U.S. State Department Human Rights report.
Though Cole was arrested and briefly detained at the Monrovia Central Prison, he has been freed on bail awaiting trial. The status of the case continues to remain shrouded in secrecy as the Ministry of Justice appears reluctant to prosecute. Ministry of Justice spokesperson Maude Somah could not be reached for comment.
LGBTQ Liberians have experienced incessant attacks in the last year.
Recently, a student of the Trinity United Methodist School was expelled for crossdressing when a viral video on Facebook showed him in a playful but fiery exchange with a female street preacher who had sought to preach damnation upon him.
Two teenagers and a man were beaten in May over suspicion they were gays. The trio claimed they were returning from a wake-keeping ceremony. Though arrests were made, the Ministry of Justice failed to prosecute. They were relocated by human rights organizations for their safety.
Liberian law criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults. Articles 14.74, 14.79, and 50.7 [of the Penal Code of 1976] consider voluntary sodomy as a first-degree misdemeanor, with a penalty of up to one-year imprisonment.
Investigation continues.
A copy of the indictment is below:
I N D I C T M E N T
COUNT ONE
THE GRAND JURORS for Montserrado County all good citizens of the Republic of Liberia, upon their OATH, and in the execution of their civil mandates, do hereby find more probably than not, that Defendants Christian Byron Anderson, Emmanuel M. Forkey and Aloysius Garblah Defendants did commit the crime of Murder, a Capital offense of the Felony of first degree to wit:
- That during the intervention hour of 2:00 A.M., same being, September 21, 2021 or thereabout, in Sinkor, City of Monrovia, County of Montserrrado, Republic of Liberia, Defendants Christian Byron Anderson, Emmanuel M. Forkey and Aloysius Garblah, did knowingly, purposely, intentionally, maliciously and criminally, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, murdered Mr. John Hilary Tubman in his bed room
- That the criminal act of the defendant that led to the death of the deceased took place after the three defendants met on diverse occasions, in the Reb Community of Paynesville and planned to proceed to the residence of the deceased, after they were convinced by Co-Defendant Christian Byron Brown for them to go to his boss man(Deceased) residence in Sinkor, Monrovia to robe him.
- That Co-Defendant Anderson, a distance relative of the deceased, had previously worked for the deceased and occasionally spent some times and nights at the deceased’s residence and had perfect knowledge of the ins and outs of the deceased’s resident, as such he led he other two Co-Defendants to the deceased’s residence on the night of September 22, 2021, where they arrived during sunset.
- That having arrived in the vivacity of the deceased’s residence, they purchased a sausages and mixture of Tabasco(stuff) which were poisoned and given to the dogs in the deceased’s yard so as to gain unhindered entrance.
- That after poisoning the dogs during nightfall, they entered the deceased’s yard and concealed themselves in the basement off the deceased’s compound where they remain until the deceased came down as he has always done, to lock the gates to his compound.
- That still in the basement or yard, they remain around until the deceased fell asleep and thereafter, they moved into his bed room and physically attacked him, while at the same time chopping him with a cutlass and having realized that the deceased had gone unconscious, they looted cash and personal belonging, including mobile phones, laptops, DVD, food stuffs, among other and then fled the scene and were arrested in River Cess County alter some two months.
- That Defendants acted in concert and have no affirmative defense
- That a person engages in a conduct purposely if, when he engages in the conduct, it is his conscious object to engage in the conduct of that nature or to cause the result of that conduct.
- That a person is guilty of murder if he;
- 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. A reputable presumption that such indifference exists arises if the defendant is engaged or is an accomplice in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit, treason, offences defined in Section 11.2 or 11.3, of this title, espionage, sabotage, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, felonious restraint, arson, rape, aggravated involuntary Sodom, escape, piracy, or other felony involving force or danger or danger to human life. Murder is a felony of the first degree but a person convicted of murder may be sentenced to death or life imprisonment as provided in Sections 50.5 and 51.3.(c).
- That the act the defendant did do in contravention of 4 LCLR, Title 26, section 14.1 (a)(b), 4 LCLR, Title 26, section50.5(1)(a) and section 51.3(1) and Title 26, section2.2 (a)(b)(c)(d)(e) and Title 26, section14.3 against the peace and dignity of the Republic of Liberia.
COUNT TWO
THE GRAND JURORS for Montserrrado County, all good citizens of the Republic of Liberia, upon their OATH, and in the execution of their civil mandates, do hereby find more probably than not, that Defendants Christian Byron Anderson, Emmanuel M. Forkey and Aloysius Garblah Defendants did commit the crime of Criminal Conspiracy misdemeanor First degree to wit:
- That during the intervention hour of 2:00 A.M., same being, September 21, 2021 or thereabout, in Sinkor, City of Monrovia, County of Montserrrado, Republic of Liberia, Defendants Christian Byron Anderson, Emmanuel M. Forkey and Aloysius Garblah, did knowingly, purposely, intentionally, maliciously and criminally, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, murdered Mr. John Hilary Tubman in his bed room
- That the criminal act of the defendant that led to the death off the deceased took place after the three met on several occasions in the Reb Community of Paynesville and planned to proceed to the residence of the deceased, after they were convinced by Co-Defendant Christian Byron Brown for them to go to his boss man(Deceased) residence in Sinkor, Monrovia to robe him.
- That Co-Defendant Anderson, a distance relative of the deceased, had previously worked for the deceased and had occasionally spent some times and nights at the deceased residence had knowledge of the ins and outs of the deceased’s resident, as such he led the other two Co-Defendants to the deceased’s residence on the night of September 22, 2021, where they arrived during sunset.
- That having arrived in the vivacity of the deceased’s residence, they purchased a sausages and mixture of Tabasco(stuff) which were poisoned and given to the dogs in the yard of the deceased so as to gain unhindered entrance.
- That after poisoning the dogs and during nightfall, they entered the yard of the deceased’s yard and concealed themselves in the basement off the deceased’s compound whey they remain until the deceased came down as he has always done, to lock the gates to his compound.
- That still in the basement or yard, they remain around until the deceased fell asleep and after which they moved into his bed room they physically attacked him, while at the same time chopping him with a cutlass and having released that the deceased had gone unconscious, they looted cash and personal belonging, including mobile phones, laptops, DVD, food stuffs, among other and then fled the scene and were arrested in River Cess County alter some two months.
- That a person engages in a conduct purposely if, when he engages in the conduct, it is his conscious object to engage in the conduct of that nature or to cause the result of that conduct.
- That the Defendants have no affirmative defenses and acted in concert when they conspired to carry out the criminal act.
- That a person is guilty of conspiracy to commit a crime if, with the purpose of promoting or facilitating its commission, he agrees with one or more persons to engage in or cause the performance of conduct which constitutes the crime, and any one or more of such persons does an act to effect the object of the conspiracy.
- Scope of conspiratorial relationship. If a person knows that one with whom he agrees has agreed or will agree with another to effect the same objective, he shall be deemed to have agreed with the other, whether or not he knows the other’s identity.
- That if a person conspires to commit a number of crimes, he is guilty of only one conspiracy so long as such multiple crimes are the object of the same agreement or continuous conspiratorial relationship.
- That a conspiracy shall be deemed to continue until the crime which is its object is committed or the agreement that it be committed is abandoned by the defendant and by those with whom he conspired. A conspiracy shall be deemed to have been abandoned if no overt act to effect its objectives has been committed by any conspirator during the applicable period of limitations. If an individual abandons the agreement, the conspiracy is terminated as to him only if and when he timely advises those with whom he has agreed of his abandonment or by timely informing a law enforcement officer of the existence of the conspiracy.
- That a person engages in a conduct purposely of which he engages in that conduct if it is his conscious object to engage in that conduct of that nature or cause the result of that conduct.
- That the acts of the defendants are contrary to 4LCLR, Title 26, section 10.4(1)(2)(3)(4)(5) and4LCLR, Title 26, section 2.2(b) of the Penal Law of the Republic of Liberia and against the peace and dignity of the Republic of Liberia.
_________________
True Bill/IGNORAMUS
__________________
True Bill/Ignoramus
_____________________
True Bill/Ignoramu
______________________
True Bill/Ignoramus
Witnesses Addresses
- William Gabriel Tucker Monrovia, Liberia
- Elkannah G. Tubman “
- Tony T. Hage “
- Cedic Keter “
- Audrey Sherman “
- LNP/Charged Sheet /FOC
_____________________
________________________ ___________________
E. Boakai Harvey Clerk Criminal Court “A”
Acting County Attorney Mont. Co. Montserrdao Co.
Filed this___ of March A.D. 2022 Term of Court.
Since you’re here…
… we have a small favour to ask. More people, like you, are reading and supporting journalRAGE’s independent journalism on LGBT issues in Liberia and the media. And unlike many news organisations, we made the choice to keep our reporting open for all.
Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice our own opinions. journalRAGE’s journalism is free from commercial and political bias and not influenced. This means we can give a voice to those less heard, explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in power.
We hope you will consider supporting us today. We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Support journalRAGE from as little as $5 – and it only takes probably less than a minute. To donate, click here.