Liberia’s Former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott and three others have been found guilty of the crimes of Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, and raising a false alarm to Law Enforcement Officer.
Jurors in the proceeding came down with a majority “guilty verdict” after reviewing arguments from both the prosecution and defense as well as making their determination in the deliberation room, declaring her guilty for all crimes levied.
On June 12, 2023, the defendants were charged by the Special Grand Jury of Montserrado on allegations of Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, and giving a false alarm to the police.
According to the charge, “The defendant’s actions violated Title 26, chapter 14, section 14.1; Chapter 10, section 10.4; and Chapter 12, section 12.33 of the new penal law of Liberia,” the indictment stated.
On February 22, 2023, at about 10:00 PM, Cllr. Gloria Musu-Scott, Gertrude Newton, Alice Johnson, and Rebecca Youdeh Wisner, “with criminal intent, armed themselves with a sharp instrument believed to be a knife and pepper spray. They willfully, intentionally, purposely, and maliciously inflicted several bodily injuries on Charlotte Musu, including her chest, right hand, left thigh, and left armpit, leading to her death and thereby committing the crime of murder.”
However, they all pleaded not guilty to charges against them.
The defense said the defendants are being wrongly accused of a crime they know nothing about and that the state has failed to go after the main perpetrators.
According to Defense Lawyers, the prosecution has failed to adduce evidence beyond all reasonable doubt. However, the prosecution noted that its evidence and the circumstances surrounding the incident clearly show that Defendant Scott and three others are liable for the death of the later Charloe Musu.
The final argument, which drew the presence of key government officials, saw a majority guilty verdict.
Eleven of the jurors voted for a guilty verdict, and one voted for a not guilty verdict.
“We, the trial jurors in the case, after careful consideration of the evidence, hereby carefully agree that the defendants are hereby judged guilty of the crime of murder, criminal conspiracy, and raising a false alarm to law enforcement officers,” the juror’s verdict read.
Following the juror’s decision, Maryland County Senator J. Gbleh-bo Browne said all was not yet over and that the defendants have the right to take an appeal to the Supreme Court.
As to whether Senator Browne was in favor of the decision, he failed to elaborate further, noting that the law should take its course.
He added that the defendants have the right to take an appeal to the Supreme Court in consistency with the law.
According to Senator Browne, the people of Maryland County do not only want Justice in the matter but to identify the actual killer of the later Charloe Musu.
“I will not criticize or applaud the decision, but all I can say is that we are looking to the outcome,” Senator Browne said.
Juror Tampering
The family of Cllr. Scott has raised suspicion over the juror’s decision, noting that they were tampered with.
Nathaniel S. Toe, Spokesman of the family told Judicial Reporters that the process was “criminalized” for the interest of others.
He insisted that the family would not rest until Justice prevailed.
“You cannot allow the killer to be outside there and hold innocent people. Gloria and others are innocent,” Mr. Toe stressed.
He alleged that the state bribed its way through the process to ensure that the jurors ruled in their favor.
Toe noted that the fact that Solicitor General, Cllr. Nyanati Tuan was relinquished from the case for attempting to tamper with the jurors speaks volumes about juror tampering.
At the same time, one of the defense Counsels, Former Chief Justice, Cllr. Frances Johnson Allison has expressed disappointment in the juror’s decision.
Cllr. Johnson said it was unfortunate that the trial jurors did not consider the evidence before them but decided to come down with a “premeditated verdict.”
“To me, their minds were made up. They were being instructed as to what decision to make,” she averred.
Cllr. Johnson further maintained that it was surprising for the jurors to make deliberation in five minutes, in a case that lasted for five months, viewing it as a show of “premeditated decision.”
She further asserted that the jurors could be bribed, stating that the defense would make its next determination for a retrial.
At the same time, Cllr. Allison informed me that the too many inconsistencies from the prosecution were sufficient enough to prove that Cllr. Scott and others should not be held guilty of the crime of murder, criminal conspiracy, and false alarm to law enforcement officers.
Justice System working?
Lead Prosecution lawyer, and Montserrado County Attorney, Cllr. Swaliho Sesay sees his side’s victory as a win as a victory for both the victim and the state saying the prosecution was not just working on conviction but ensuring that Justice is served.
Cllr. Sesay said the evidence provided by the state and visitation to the crime scene was sufficient enough to prove a guilty verdict.
He said the defense presented doubt, misconception, and political insinuation during the trial, which clarified that the jurors were convenient to come down with a guilty verdict.
At the same time, Sesay added, that the issue raised about juror tampering was insulting to jurors, since the court did not find any juror tampering during the investigation.
Meanwhile, Cllr. Sesay believed it was just true that the act was committed and the defendants were liable for the crimes.
Meanwhile, the defense team has taken an exception to the juror’s decision to make a further determination as to go for a new trial or take an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Original reporting by Front Page Africa
