-in Nimba
By: Shallon S. Gonlor
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — A jury in Nimba County has delivered a split verdict in the trial of two individuals accused in the gang rape of a 13-year-old girl, finding one defendant guilty while failing to reach a unanimous decision on the other.
The mixed ruling was handed down on March 12, 2026, by the Sexual Offenses Division Court in Sanniquellie. After 26 days of jury deliberation during the February 2026 Term of Court, jurors returned a unanimous guilty verdict against Alexander Kollie, a 36-year-old male. However, they were unable to reach a consensus regarding co-defendant Jacqueline Jackson, a 33-year-old female, resulting in a hung verdict and mandating a retrial for Jackson.
The verdicts were the culmination of weeks of careful consideration of the evidence and arguments presented during the trial, bringing a measure of resolution in the case of the young victim, identified as N.B.
The Grand Inquest for Nimba County indicted Jacqueline Jackson and Alexander Kollie for gang rape, a first-degree felony under Liberian law (4LCLR, Title 26, Chapter 14, Subsection 14.70). Gang rape is punishable under the New Penal Law of Liberia.
The indictment, issued during the November 2025 Term of Court, alleged that the defendants purposely promoted or facilitated the gang raping of the victim.
A person commits gang rape if they purposely promote or facilitate rape, or agree with one or more persons to engage in or cause the performance of conduct that constitutes rape.
On Saturday, October 11, 2025 during the late evening hours in Peace Community, Ganta City, Nimba County, Defendant Alexander Kollie allegedly persuaded and violently grabbed survivor (N.B.) a 13-years-old and forcibly removed her clothes and had sexual intercourse with her in her mother’s bedroom.
The Liberia National Police Women and Children Protection Section in Ganta, Nimba County preliminary investigation established that Co-defendant Jacqueline Kollie master-minded and planned said wicked incident, ushering Defendant Alexander Kollie into a room to carry on the act against survivor (N.B.), a 13-years-old girl. Defendant Jacqueline conspired with Defendant Alexander Kollie, arranged a sleeping place that later became the crime scene, which led to the commission of the sexual offense.
COURT’S TRIAL:
The Sexual Offenses Division Court resumed proceedings in the trial case on the 20th day sitting of the February 2026 Term of Court. Defendants Jacqueline Jackson and Alexander Kollie were arraigned, and 12 jurors were empaneled.
The defendants pleaded not guilty, opting for a trial. The prosecution, led by the County Attorney of Nimba County, presented seven witnesses, including one rebuttal witness. Evidence presented included the survivor’s statement, medical reports, witness statements, a police charge sheet, crime scene photos, and F.O.C. (victim’s bloodstain clothes).
The prosecution’s first and key witness, 13-year-old victim N.B., testified that she knew defendant Alexander Kollie through her uncle Marcus. She stated that Kollie frequently visited their house and would give her money for school recess. The victim testified that Kollie had asked her to do his laundry and, on one occasion, expressed romantic interest in her, which led her to stop visiting his house. She recounted that on Saturday, October 11, 2025, her uncle Marcus and Kollie visited their house.
Her uncle lodged Kollie in his room and asked her and co-defendant Jacqueline Jackson to sleep in her mother, Shirley’s room. The victim stated: ‘I was sleepy and wanted to go to bed. I asked aunty Jacqueline, if we could go to bed, but she said she was still sitting outside. I went to bed in my mother’s room, leaving the door open for aunty Jacqueline. When I woke up at midnight, I only saw uncle Alex in my mother’s room. He raped me, and there was blood on my mother’s bed sheet. In the morning, I told aunty Jacqueline, but she told me to wash it and not tell anyone.”
The medical report revealed that the victim’s lab results showed evidence of hymen tear with penetration by a penis, healing and abrasion at the 9 o’clock and 12 o’clock positions, and vagina dilation, indicating that rape had occurred.
Odell Kerkula, a 12-year-old witness and friend of the victim, testified that she and N.B. were at Jackie’s Resort in Ganta City when N.B. confided in her that defendant Alexander had sexually assaulted her.
She said her friend, N.B. wanted to report the incident the next day, but her aunt, Jacqueline, warned her not to tell anyone, threatening that she would die if she did. She further said this led them to eventually report the incident to the police station. For their part, the defendants presented three witnesses in their defense, including defendants Alexander Kollie, Jacqueline Jackson, and witness Marcus Glaypoe, Jacqueline Jackson’s fiancé.
Defendant Alexander Kolie admitted that he and the victim, 13, were having a sexual relationship with the knowledge of the victim’s mother, Shirley Jackson, which is an admission of guilt by operation of section 14.70(b) of the Penal Law Revised Code.
“Your Honor, the reason why I said I am not guilty of gang rape, N.B. and I have been loving and her mother is in the know; she encouraged me,” Defendant Alexander defense.
It suffices to say that a person, 18 years or above, having a sexual relation with another person, less than 18 years, constitutes a crime of rape, a felony of the first degree under the statute. The law presumed a lack of consent under the statute. The defendant’s testimony that the victim’s mother knew about their relationship is not tenable under the statute.
Co-defendant Jacqueline Jackson denied involvement, stating she had no prior knowledge of the crime but was informed after commission. The court is considered the jury’s verdict on defendant Alexander Kollie’s guilt and applied section 20.1(4) of the Criminal Procedure Law Revised Code regarding Co-defendant Jacqueline Jackson.
SENTENCING ANNOUNCED, RETRIAL ORDERED:
Resident Circuit Judge, Musa S. Sidibey has scheduled defendant Alexander Kollie’s sentencing for Thursday, March 19, 2026, following a presentence investigation report from the Ministry of Justice Probation Office. Defendant Jacqueline Jackson was remanded to Sanniquellie Central Prison to await retrial due to a hung jury verdict. A hung jury occurs when jurors cannot reach a unanimous or supermajority verdict despite extended deliberation, resulting in a mistrial.
This is not an acquittal or conviction, and the case can be retried. In this case, the prosecution can retry the case, negotiate a plea, or drop charges. If the jury remains deadlocked after a second trial, charges might be dropped, though retrials are possible. The mixed verdict marks the court’s second jury trial in the February 2026 Term of Court, resulting in a hung jury and a unanimous verdict of guilty and not guilty.
RECENT VERDICTS:
Jurors at the Specialized Sexual Offenses Division Court in Nimba County’s 8th Judicial Circuit recently delivered two verdicts — a unanimous not guilty and a hung jury in the trial of two defendants indicted for gang rape. Defendant Romeo Macargo, 32, was found not guilty, while the jury failed to reach a verdict for Roland Suah, 33, resulting in a hung jury for a new trial.
The two men were reportedly linked to gang raping a 62-year-old woman at a wake-keeping ceremony on September 26, 2025, in Zlangban Street, Ganta City.
The trial, which lasted for a few days, concluded on Thursday, February 19, 2026, with not guilty and hung jury verdicts returned by a 12-member jury panel after reviewing evidence, including witness testimonies and documentaries, which led to the verdicts.
