GBARNGA, Bong – Police in Bong have arrested two persons in connection to the murder of 17-year-old Satta Binda in Gbartala.

Police arrested Clarence Davis, 23, and Josephine Solunteh, 24, on Sunday in Gbartala. They are currently in Police custody in Gbarnga.

Residents of Gbartala woke up early Sunday to the astonishing news of the murder of the teenager at the back of their yard.

Solunteh, a friend of the deceased, told police that Davis had physically attacked and assaulted Binda in her presence when the three of them had left a celebration and headed home around 2:00 a.m. in Gbartala.

Solunteh said she tried to rescue Binda but Davis rebuffed her attempts, even threatening to inflict more pain to Binda if Solunteh continued interfering.

Josephine Solunteh, a friend of the deceased Satta Binda. Photo: Moses Bailey.

“The way he was beating the girl, I could not stand the tension. I left them, and I went to call other people from the place we were attending the feast,” Sulunteh said. “I did not see anyone, so I decided to just go to bed.”

Davis has denied Solunteh’s claim and said he only escorted Binda around her house from the feast between 8:00-9:00 p.m. on Saturday. He denied having any other interaction with Binda or Solunteh until the next morning when he heard of Binda’s murder.

“To the God that created me, I believe in justice. I believe in the truth. I am innocent,” Davis told The Bush Chicken on Monday at the police headquarters in Gbarnga.

A 15-member jury set up to examine the body concluded that Binda was raped before her murder.

Angry citizens of the town set up roadblocks on Monday, demanding a speedy investigation into the teenager’s murder.

As further investigations continue, the remains of the deceased have been turned over to family members for internment, said Kelenso Flomo, the head of the police Crime Services Department.

This is not the first time for such killing in Bong; Angeline Kolleh, a resident of Gbarnga was killed in a similar manner in July 2017. The perpetrators were arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Featured photo by Moses Bailey