–Dougbe and Friday Newton Convicted in Death of 77-Year-Old Josephine Sieh Following Mob Assault in Gbaken Town
HARPER, Maryland County — The Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in Maryland County has sentenced Dougbe Newton and Friday Newton to 30 years in prison, including five years of hard labor, for the murder of 77-year-old Josephine Sieh, who was allegedly beaten to death after being accused of witchcraft.
Assigned Circuit Judge Cllr. George S. Wiles Jr. handed down the sentence Monday after a jury found Dougbe Newton and Friday Newton guilty of murder.
The court also ordered the Clerk of Court to prepare permanent commitment orders for the two men, clearing the way for their transfer to Harper Central Prison to serve their sentences.
The verdict and sentencing bring a measure of judicial resolution to a case that began with a deadly confrontation in Gbaken Town, Pleebo, in August 2025 and renewed concerns about mob violence and the dangers faced by people accused of witchcraft in Liberia.
Nine Defendants Initially Charged
The case initially involved nine defendants, according to the proceedings.
Charges against four defendants were subsequently dismissed, while five others proceeded to trial after entering pleas of not guilty.
During the proceedings, Victor Brown changed his plea and pleaded guilty. Augustine Karyee and David Y. Sieh maintained their pleas of not guilty, while Dougbe Newton and Friday Newton continued to contest the murder allegations.
Following final arguments, the jury acquitted Karyee, while proceedings involving David Y. Sieh ended with a hung verdict.
Karyee was subsequently released.
The jury, however, found Dougbe Newton and Friday Newton guilty of murder, leading to Monday’s sentencing.
Josephine Sieh’s Death
According to the indictment and earlier police accounts, Josephine Sieh was accused of practicing witchcraft following the death of a child in the community.
Contemporary reporting said community leaders had initiated a traditional consultation after the child became ill and died. A traditional healer was reportedly consulted, and Sieh was subsequently accused of being connected to the child’s death.
FrontPageAfrica reported at the time that Sieh was summoned by town authorities on August 8, 2025, and that a traditional healer allegedly confirmed the accusations against her. She was then reportedly taken into the custody of youths in the community.
GNN Liberia reported that Sieh was at a burial when the traditional consultation occurred and that, upon returning, she was taken to the traditional healer. According to the account, she denied the accusation but was nevertheless handed over to members of the community.
The subsequent assault resulted in her death.
Her body was later discovered in a bush, according to the case account, with visible bruising consistent with the alleged beating.
Witchcraft Accusations and Mob Justice
The killing highlighted a persistent challenge in Liberia, where accusations of witchcraft have, in some communities, resulted in violence, forced confessions, ostracism, and even death.
Human rights reporting has repeatedly documented cases in which individuals accused of witchcraft were subjected to harmful traditional practices and extrajudicial punishment. The U.S. Department of State has previously reported concerns about witchcraft accusations, ritualistic killings, and trial by ordeal in Liberia, noting that such practices can expose accused persons to serious violence.
Maryland County has experienced several cases involving allegations of witchcraft and mob violence.
In March 2025, for example, four people were charged in connection with the alleged killing of Himmie Freeman after he was reportedly accused of practicing witchcraft in Rock Town. The case prompted renewed calls from human rights advocates for residents to rely on the formal justice system rather than taking the law into their own hands.
The pattern has also continued beyond 2025. In January 2026, a 33-year-old man in Maryland County was rescued after reportedly disappearing amid allegations connected to witchcraft, with authorities investigating claims that he had been subjected to physical abuse.
Traditional Beliefs Versus the Rule of Law
The Josephine Sieh case underscores the tension between traditional beliefs and Liberia’s formal justice system.
While traditional beliefs remain influential in many Liberian communities, accusations of witchcraft do not authorize private citizens, community leaders, or traditional practitioners to punish, assault, detain, or kill another person.
The Carter Center has previously documented that trial by ordeal and practices such as sassywood are illegal in Liberia and has emphasized that no person’s life should be placed in danger as a means of determining guilt or innocence.
Liberia’s formal justice system requires allegations of criminal conduct to be investigated and prosecuted through established legal procedures rather than through mob action or physical punishment.
Court Sends Strong Message
By convicting Dougbe and Friday Newton and imposing lengthy prison sentences, the Maryland County Circuit Court has brought the criminal proceedings against the two men to a conclusion at the trial level.
The 30-year sentences, including five years of hard labor, reflect the seriousness with which the court treated the killing of Sieh.
The court’s order for permanent commitment documents further directs the correctional authorities to maintain custody of the convicted men at Harper Central Prison.
The outcome also reinforces the principle that accusations—whether based on criminal suspicion, traditional beliefs, or community claims—cannot substitute for judicial determination.
A Wider Challenge for Liberia
The death of Josephine Sieh is not simply a murder case; it is also a reminder of the potentially deadly consequences of allowing accusations of witchcraft to override the rule of law.
For communities confronting unexplained deaths, illnesses, or other troubling events, authorities and rights advocates have repeatedly urged residents to report suspected crimes to law enforcement and allow investigations and courts to determine responsibility.
The Sieh case demonstrates the human cost when suspicion becomes accusation, accusation becomes mob action, and mob action becomes deadly violence.
The conviction of Dougbe and Friday Newton now places the responsibility for accountability within Liberia’s formal justice system, rather than leaving such matters to community retaliation or traditional punishment.
The case also adds to the growing call for stronger public education, community engagement, and law-enforcement intervention to prevent future killings arising from witchcraft allegations.
For Josephine Sieh’s family, Monday’s sentence represents the latest chapter in a case that began with an accusation and ended with the death of an elderly woman.
For Liberia more broadly, the case presents another stark reminder that belief cannot replace evidence, and accusations cannot replace justice.
For breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive reports from Liberia and around the world, follow The Liberian Post on Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576017166570) and X, formerly Twitter (https://x.com/LiberianPost).
