GARDNERVILLE, Montserrado – The Monrovia City Court has incarcerated 26-year-old Marthaline Kollie for allegedly killing her boyfriend in Gardnerville after he refused to give her enough money for the July 26 Independence Day celebrations.

July 26 of each year is widely celebrated in Liberia as Independence Day, and many citizens use that time to visit friends, family members, and others spend it with their spouses.

According to the police, on July 25, Kollie went to the working area of the deceased, James Tweh, and requested money to buy food and drinks to celebrate the holiday. She was given L$1,800 (US$8.90) but insisted that the money was insufficient.

The police charge sheet noted that an additional L$500 (US$2.48) was given to the defendant before she agreed to leave the victim’s workplace. However, she later came back the next day to demand another L$700 (US$3.46), which Tweh refused to give, sparking tensions between the two.

The charge sheet further said Kollie then retaliated and seized Tweh’s clothes he had purchased for the holiday and left for her house, which prompted the victim to follow her and beg her for his clothes. When she refused, that led to a tussle between the couple.

Kollie managed to escape her house with a knife to complain about the victim’s action to his boss, police noted. The victim also arrived on the scene to justify his actions, but he was then stabbed by Kollie in his pelvic region, which led to his death.

Tweh was rushed to Leech Clinic, located in Bardnesville, before being transferred to the Trinity Healing Temple Clinic, and then later referred to the Redemption Hospital. On the way to the hospital, he died.

Kollie has been charged with murder and is currently at the Monrovia Central Prison awaiting trial.

Featured photo by Morine Pewee