By Forkpayea Taylor|LPR News, Tubmanburg
Jonathan Williams, the man suspected of killing Super FM/TV journalist Tyron Brown has pleaded guilty to murder charge in at the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Tubmanburg, Bomi County.
Liberia Public Radio reporter covering the trial said Judge Nancy Sammy ruled that the Prosecution provided convincing evidence to prove that Williams committed murder, but reserved sentence pending probe by the Probation Officer of Montserrado County.
Defendant Williams had earlier during the trial admitted killing Journalist Browne, but he claimed it was in self-defense.
The Probation Officer’s probe is to ascertain the character of Williams before this Monday March 23, 2020.
Journalist Brown 24 year old, was stabbed to death several times in the Duport Road, Paynesville suburb of Monrovia and the trial first started at the Temple of Justice in the Liberian capital.
The murder case was transferred to Tubmanburg City, Bomi County last year.
In 2018, Defendant Williams was indicted by the Grand Jury of Montserrado County for allegedly killing Journalist Tyron Brown in the Du-Port Road Community in Paynesville.
In its argument, Defense Counsel, led by Cllr. Jimmy Bombo, told the court in February that his client, Jonathan Williams, had earlier waived Jury Trial.
Defendant Williams was facing Bench Trial, consistent with Article 21 (a) of the 1986 Liberian Constitution.
Jonathan Williams confesses
Jonathan Williams, the prime suspect in the death of Super FM TV cameraman Tyron Browne, told police investigators in 2018 that he killed the journalist in ‘self-defense’ after the journalist reportedly refused to leave his residence when asked to do so on the evening of Sunday, April 15.
According to our reporter, the defense team of Williams, who have been pressing for the verdict to be reduced to manslaughter, announced that they are filing an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia.
PUL welcomes verdict
ThePress Union of Liberia welcomes the guilty verdict of Jonathan Williams, the killer of Journalist Tyron Brown of Super FM .
Journalist Brown was killed by Jonathan Williams and dumped in the Duport Road Community and his lifeless body was found by community members on April 16, 2018.
Williams doing the trial admitted to stabbing journalist Brown multiple times before dumping his body in another community.
The judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Tubmanburg, Bomi County found him guilty of the crime of Murder on Tuesday March 17, 2020.
Press Union Liberia president, Charles Cuffey who was in court described the guilty verdict as a ‘victory’ for the rule of law in Liberia.
The Union is therefore demanding a maximum sentence for the murderer in accordance with the laws of Liberia.
PUL believes that the maximum sentence will serve as a deterrence for others not to engage in the willful and intentional taking away of another person’s life.
The Press Union of Liberia has been leading a campaign seeking justice for the late Liberian Journalist since his Murder on April 16, 2018.
