SINOE COUNTY – The Circuit Court in Sinoe County has sentenced 40-year-old Armah Dassay to life imprisonment for the murder of Isaac Kpakgpor, bringing closure to a case that sparked widespread outrage across the county in 2023.
The ruling was delivered by Assigned Circuit Judge for the Third Judicial Circuit, Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh, who found Dassay guilty based on what he described as compelling and consistent evidence presented during the trial.
Court records indicate that the incident occurred on June 17, 2023, when Dassay transported the victim on a motorbike to a palm wine site on the outskirts of the Golden Veroleum Liberia plantation in Butaw, Sinoe County. He was reportedly the last person seen with Kpakgpor before the victim went missing.
Days after the disappearance, the lifeless body of Kpakgpor was discovered tied to a tree under gruesome conditions. The shocking nature of the killing triggered public anger, particularly during the tense period of the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
The trial, which resumed on June 16, 2026, began with Dassay entering a plea of not guilty. Over the course of more than a month, the prosecution presented 11 witnesses, while the defendant and his wife testified in his defense. On March 18, 2026, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.
Testimony during the proceedings revealed that Dassay had taken the victim to a palm wine tree, where Kpakgpor allegedly consumed alcohol and became intoxicated. Witnesses, including Dassay’s 13-year-old son, told the court that the victim was later found tied to a tree. The son reportedly discouraged others from reporting the incident, though one individual eventually alerted authorities, leading to a police investigation.
Initially, Dassay denied any knowledge of the victim’s whereabouts, claiming he had not seen him. However, he later admitted to taking Kpakgpor part of the way before leaving him. The court highlighted inconsistencies in his statements, as well as his failure to raise alarm during the community’s search for the missing man.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Wesseh relied heavily on the legal doctrine of “last seen,” which places responsibility on the individual last seen with a deceased person if no credible explanation is provided. He noted that the chain of circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution led to an “irresistible conclusion” of guilt.
The judge also stressed that Dassay had a duty of care toward the victim, particularly after observing his intoxicated state. His failure to ensure the victim’s safety or notify the community was described as a grave breach of responsibility.
Following the ruling, defense lawyer Franklin Myer announced plans to challenge the verdict before the Supreme Court, signaling the start of a potential appeals process.
Meanwhile, Acting County Attorney for Sinoe County, Mmonbeydo N. Joah, welcomed the court’s decision, describing it as a victory for justice and a measure of closure for the family and community of the deceased.
