The Judge of the Criminal Court ‘B’ at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, Wesseh A. Wesseh, has sentenced Bill Jallah to life imprisonment for murdering his girlfriend, Princess Zuo. On Wednesday, September 22, 2025, the judge rendered his decision following a presentencing investigative report from the Probation Services of the Ministry of Justice, which conducted a full background check on the defendant.
Jallah’s life sentence is consistent with Liberian law for first-degree felony. The trial was conducted under non-jury circumstances, leaving the judge with the power to determine both the verdict and the penalty. Judge Wesseh recently adjudged Jallah guilty on all counts of Murder, Attempted Murder, and Aggravated Assault. Bill was indicted by the Montserrado County Grand Jury on March 6. He was tried for killing his lover, Princess Zuo Wesseh and inflicting severe injuries on his sister, Komassah Jallah, during a violent altercation on December 21, 2024.
Details of the crime
The fatal incident occurred at the Fast Nickel Entertainment Center on Duport Road in Paynesville, where Jallah reportedly became violent and accusatory during a dispute with Princess, whom he confronted over her social activities. Emmanuel Gailman, an eyewitness, Human Resource Manager at the entertainment center, testified that Jallah stabbed Wesseh multiple times with a silver knife, inflicting deep wounds to her chest, neck, arm, and back. The incident caused panic among bystanders. Komassah Jallah, Defendant Jallah’s sister, who had attempted to fix things between them, was also stabbed during the fracas. After the incident, the defendant tried to flee the scene but was apprehended by community members before police from the Paynesville City Corporation arrived and took him into custody.
One of the prosecution’s witnesses, Abraham B. Ricks, County Coroner for Montserrado County, confirmed that the victim sustained multiple stab wounds, some as deep as six inches, leading to her death. Jacob Suah, an investigator from the Liberia National Police, testified that Jallah was charged following a full-scale inquiry, which included statements from eyewitnesses, the defendant’s confession, and forensic evidence. Jallah, through his lawyers, attempted to enter into a plea bargaining agreement, citing the defendant’s remorse and lack of prior criminal history.
However, Judge Wesseh rejected the agreement, stating that “a trial court is never a party or bound to a plea bargaining agreement,” especially in capital offense cases. Though Jallah had initially pleaded guilty, the court set aside that plea and entered a “Not Guilty” plea on his behalf, allowing the trial to proceed. Taking the stand on his own behalf, Jallah claimed to have no memory of the incident, described himself as being traumatized, and issued an emotional apology to Princess’s family.
Court’s Final Ruling
Delivering its final verdict on Thursday, September 11, the court held that Jallah’s action was “premeditated and deliberate,” noting that the evidence, including eyewitness testimonies and forensic findings, left no doubt as to his guilt. “The defendant’s act of inflicting multiple bodily injuries on the peaceful body of the deceased, which led to her untimely death, was premeditated. His conduct runs contrary to civilized norms and the laws of the Republic of Liberia,” Judge Wesseh ruled.
