By: Gabriel M. C. Parker
BOMI COUNTY –The 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Tubmanburg has sentenced 38-year-old James Harris to life imprisonment for the murder of Johns Flomo, bringing closure to a months-long investigation that gripped Bomi County.
The sentence followed a unanimous guilty verdict delivered by a jury on Monday, September 29, 2025, during the court’s August Term.
Flomo was first reported missing on March 7, 2025, just days after receiving his February salary. His disappearance sparked widespread concern in the community.
Two weeks later, his body was discovered under suspicious circumstances, prompting a full-scale investigation by the Bomi detachment of the Liberia National Police (LNP).
On March 18, police arrested Harris along with ten others in connection with the case. Prosecutors later dropped charges against the ten suspects due to insufficient evidence, leaving Harris as the sole defendant.
He was formally charged with murder and stood trial before Resident Judge Siafa Carey.
During the proceedings, prosecutors presented key evidence and witness testimonies that convinced the jury of Harris’s guilt.
The jury’s unanimous verdict led Judge Carey to hand down the maximum penalty allowed under Liberian law for murder: life imprisonment.
Despite the ruling, Harris maintained his innocence, insisting, “It was a plot against me by my friends.” His defense failed to sway the jury, which found the prosecution’s case compelling and credible beyond a reasonable doubt.
In a post-sentencing interview, Bomi County Attorney Cllr. Patto Jargba welcomed the outcome. “Justice has been served, and this will serve as a caveat to would-be wrongdoers,” he said.
The ruling concludes a high-profile case that has brought relief to residents and sent a strong message against violent crime in the county.
