– Process Zou killer, Bill Jallah Found Guilty of Murder
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By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA, Liberia – The Criminal Assizes Court ‘B’ at the First Judicial Circuit in Montserrado County has found defendant Bill Jallah guilty on all counts for the brutal December 2024 stabbing that resulted in the death of Process Zou Wesseh and the injury of another woman.
Presiding Judge Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh, Sr. delivered the judgment on Thursday, following a trial that detailed a night of violence stemming from a domestic altercation. Jallah was convicted of Murder, a capital offense of the First Degree Felony, as well as Attempted Murder and Aggravated Assault, which are second-degree felonies.
A Fateful Night of Violence
The court found that the tragedy unfolded on the evening of Saturday, December 21, 2024. According to the indictment and witness testimony, an argument began at the victim’s workplace in Oldest Congo Town, prompting her to call Jallah’s father. His sister, Komassah Jallah, arrived and persuaded the couple to move to the Fast Nickel Entertainment Center on Duport Road in Paynesville to resolve their issues peacefully.
However, the situation escalated dramatically. Witness Emmanuel Gilman, the Human Resource Manager at Fast Nickel, testified that Jallah became “cantankerous and violent,” confronting the deceased about going out with friends the previous night without his knowledge.
As Process Zou Wesseh attempted to leave, Jallah followed her, impeded her movement, and pulled a silver knife from his clothing. Gilman stated he saw Jallah stab the “fair color lady” multiple times before also turning the knife on Komassah Jallah, who had tried to intervene, leaving both women lying in a pool of blood.
The trial took a significant turn when Jallah, through his counsel, initially applied for a plea bargaining agreement. Judge Wesseh set the agreement aside, noting that the court is not bound by such proposals, especially for a capital offense like murder. Jallah was arraigned and pleaded guilty to all three charges.
In a procedural move, the court entered a plea of “not guilty” on his behalf, allowing the trial to proceed as required by law. The defense subsequently waived its right to a jury trial, leaving the judge to weigh the evidence.
Graphic Evidence and a Claim of Trauma
The prosecution presented compelling evidence. Police Investigator Jacob Suah detailed the investigation, which included visiting the crime scene, speaking to eyewitnesses, and photographing the victim’s wounds at the JFK Medical Center mortuary.
The most graphic testimony came from Montserrado County Coroner, Abraham B. Ricks. He reported that a 15-man coroner’s jury found the deceased suffered multiple deep wounds, including some measuring six inches in depth, which directly led to her death.
When called to the stand, Bill Jallah offered little defense. He testified that he could not remember the events of that night due to trauma, described the deceased as a “good friend,” and expressed his disbelief that she was gone. He concluded his testimony with a tearful apology to the victim’s family, specifically her mother and son, and pleaded for the government’s compassion and for the court to temper justice with mercy.
In his judgment, Judge Wesseh stated that the evidence, coupled with Jallah’s own initial guilty plea, left no doubt that his actions were premeditated and “run contrary to civilized norms and the laws of the Republic of Liberia.”
The court has ordered the Clerk to communicate with the Probation Services at the Ministry of Justice to conduct a pre-sentencing background investigation on Jallah. This report, due within five days, will aid the court in determining his final sentence.
Jallah now awaits his sentencing hearing, facing a potential life sentence for the murder conviction.
