The Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in Maryland County has sentenced two men to 30 years for murder.
Assigned Circuit Judge, George S. Wiles, Jr. on Monday September 7, announced the sentenced of Dougbe Newton, and Friday Newton to 30 years at the Harper Central Prison.
The pair will also suffer five years of hard labor. They were adjudged for the murder of Josephene Sieh.
Their sentence followed a unanimous guilty verdict the trial jury unanimously announced.
The Court has meanwhile, ordered the Clerk to prepare permanent commitment papers for the convicts.
The case originally involved nine defendants. Four were discharged after charges against them were dismissed, while five were tried after pleading not guilty.
During the trial, defendant Victor Brown changed his plea to guilty, while Augustine Karyee, and David Y. Sieh, maintained their not-guilty pleas.
After final arguments, the jury acquitted Augustine Karyee.
The jury could not reach a verdict in the case of David Y. Sieh, resulting in a hanging verdict, while Dougbe Newton, and Friday Newton, were found guilty of murdering Madam Sieh.
In the indictment, Josephene Sieh of Gbaken Town was beaten to death on the night of August 8, 2025.
Prosecutors said, the defendants accused her of witchcraft, tied her up, beat her, and later dumped her body in a bush where it was found with multiple bruises.
In his final ruling, Judge Wiles said, the evidence presented during trial established that Dougbe, and Friday Newton, were responsible for the killing of Madam Sieh.
