In Princess Cooper Case: Pres. WEAH ORDERS SECOND AUTOPSY BY FAMILY-DESIGNATED PATHOLOGIST
Monrovia, Liberia – President George Manneh Weah has directed Justice Minister Frank Musah Dean to avail the remains of the late Princess Cooper for the conduct of a second autopsy.
The decision, he said, is to lend support to the bereaved family, in their quest to bring closure to the circumstances surrounding the death of their loved one along with concerns raised by some citizens with the initial autopsy.
President Weah said the government will fund the conduct of the second autopsy and called on the family to designate a pathologist of their choice, possessing the requisite credentials and qualifications.
In the directive, President Weah urged Minister Dean to ensure that all civil society, political and other interest groups and individuals who have been involved with advocacy in the case to cooperate with the family and send the name of a designated qualified pathologist to the government in the soonest possible time for the conduct of the second autopsy.
The Liberian Chief Executive reiterated his condolences to the bereaved family, saying the death of any Liberian, whether by natural or unnatural causes, is concerning to the government.
The President has however called on the public to respect Liberian professionals. He reminded them that the pathologists who carried out the initial autopsy were trained to international standards by the Government of Liberia with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The President’s decision is triggered by a ‘no confidence’ statement in the first Autopsy Report released in Monrovia today by the Ministry of Justice Pathologist. The Autopsy indicated that Princess died a natural death which was nursed by Tuberculosis or TB. Family frowned on the report that their daughter has had no prior sickness contrary to the Autopsy Report.
