The Circuit Court in Sinoe County has sentenced 40-year-old Armah Dassay to life imprisonment for the murder of Isaac Kpakgpor, bringing an end to a highly publicized and emotionally charged trial. Presiding Judge Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh delivered the ruling after finding Dassay guilty based on what he described as strong and compelling circumstantial evidence presented by state prosecutors.
The case originated from a June 17, 2023 incident in which Dassay transported Kpakgpor on a motorbike to a palm wine site on the outskirts of the Golden Veroleum Liberia Plantation in Butaw. Court records confirmed that Dassay was the last person seen with the victim before his disappearance.
Days later, Kpakgpor’s body was discovered tied to a tree under gruesome conditions, sparking widespread outrage across the county at the height of the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
After months of delays, the trial resumed on February 16, 2026. Dassay pleaded not guilty, but a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on March 18, 2026. Prosecutors presented 11 witnesses, while the defendant and his wife testified in his defense.
Testimony revealed that Dassay led the victim to a palm wine tree, where Kpakgpor reportedly consumed alcohol until he became intoxicated. Several witnesses, including Dassay’s 13-year-old son, testified that the victim was later found tied to a tree.
The son allegedly discouraged others from reporting the incident, though one witness eventually informed authorities, triggering a police investigation. Dassay initially denied any involvement and claimed he had not seen the victim on the day of his disappearance.
He later admitted taking Kpakgpor part of the way before leaving him. The court highlighted the inconsistencies in his statements and his failure to alert the community during the search as major indicators of guilt.
In his ruling, Judge Wesseh invoked the legal doctrine of “last seen,” which places responsibility on the last person seen with a deceased individual when no reasonable alternative explanation is given. He concluded that the circumstantial evidence formed a “complete chain” leading to an irresistible inference of Dassay’s guilt. The judge also noted that Dassay had a moral and legal duty to protect the intoxicated victim or, at a minimum, notify others when he went missing.
Defense counsel Cllr. Franklin Myer announced plans to appeal the judgment before the full bench of the Supreme Court of Liberia, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to sustain a conviction. Meanwhile, Acting County Attorney for Sinoe County, Mmonbeydo N. Joah, welcomed the verdict, calling it a significant victory for justice and a moment of closure for the victim’s family and community.
