The Liberia National Police (LNP) has charged and forwarded to court 43-year-old Francis Koiyan for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Hannah Karto, over an empty palm wine container in Zeor’s Town, Lower Margibi County.
Koiyan, a resident of Zeor’s Town, was arrested on March 27, 2025, in Louisiana Township. He has been with murder and aggravated assault for allegedly killing Karto on February 6, 2025, at approximately 10:00 a.m.
According to the police charge sheet, Koiyan fled the crime scene shortly after the incident but was apprehended charged on March 27, 2025, in Louisiana Township, Montserrado County, based on a tip-off.
The investigation revealed that Karto had left her Zeor’s Town home on February 6 to purchase her usual goods, including palm wine, from the bush. However, her boyfriend, Koiyan, insisted on following her because she was carrying his palm wine container and had refused to give it back to him. As they made their way through the bush, Koiyan allegedly began to beat Karto until she collapsed. While she lay unconscious, Koiyan reportedly tied her hands behind her back, placed her head under her underwear, and abandoned her in the bush.
Market women in Zeor’s Town, who heard Karto’s cries for help, alerted the community. Locals responded and found Karto lying unconscious and bleeding in the bush. Despite a search of the area, Koiyan was nowhere to be found. Police instructed the victim’s family to preserve her body as the search for Koiyan continued.
A team from the LNP’s Crime Against Persons Unit (CAPU) responded to the scene and conducted an inquest at the T. Wah Bedell Funeral Home. The deceased’s body showed signs of severe trauma, including a deep laceration to the back of the head and multiple bruises. Karto’s body was later released to her family by the Montserrado County Coroner and has since been buried.
During questioning, Koiyan allegedly confessed to killing Karto, citing the reasons behind his actions. Local witnesses criticized Koiyan for his heartless actions, given the brutality of the crime.
Koiyan’s charges are in violation of Chapter 14, Subchapter A, and Section 14.1 of the Revised Penal Law of the Republic of Liberia. He has been remanded to the Monrovia Central Prison pending his court trial.
