Sierra Leonean man arrested for breaking girlfriend’s seven ribs and spinal code

“It’s irksome! He lied she had a cardiac arrest but the autopsy revealed she sustained visible injuries, 7 broken ribs, and a damaged spinal cord. The dude in question is a business mogul who travels out of Sierra Leone to other countries,” s close friend of Siafatu Kamara told CNA.

A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of his girlfriend, whose death was initially reported as a cardiac arrest. The suspect, identified as Abdul Kpakpa, is accused of beating his girlfriend, Siafatu Kamara, to death and then staging a cover-up.

According to the victim’s family, Siafatu spent the night with Kpakpa before being rushed to the hospital early the following morning. She was pronounced dead upon arrival. Kpakpa informed the family of a suspected cardiac arrest and accompanied them to the hospital and later to the funeral home.

It was at the funeral home that suspicious marks and injuries on Sia’s body were discovered, prompting an autopsy. The medical examiner determined that the victim had suffered multiple injuries, including broken ribs and a spinal cord, consistent with fatal blunt-force trauma.

Kpakpa has confessed to the crime, admitting that he beat Sia to death and attempted to conceal the evidence by staging a cardiac arrest. The family is now demanding justice for their loved one.

“You don’t want to imagine what kind of battery would have caused seven broken ribs. The pain. The torture. The torment. The trauma. The countless pleas for help and mercy after constant hits that fell on deaf ears. She could not put up any resistance. Her slender body succumbed. Death is the only option. What more sorrow could her family bear? We want justice.” a close friend, Abu Bakarr Turay said in a Facebook post.

Friends and families have expressed sorrow with some revealing that she was going through a tough time with her boyfriend who transformed her into a punching bag.

“My heart bleeds cos Sia did not open up to me as a close friend about the battering, even till death, we were all in the dark. I have messages from last year of her crying in distress from depression from the said relationship. She’s been dating this guy for years … to imagine the torture she’s been through…. I can barely sleep these days … I’m hurting.” Another friend said in a chat with CNA.

An NGO called Power Women 232 has said justice must take place and the perpetrator punished for the death of Siafatu. They also urged the government and stakeholders to put in place more measures to fight against domestic violence in Sierra Leone.