Monrovia – The high-profile arson trial involving former Speaker Fonati Koffa and 6 different defendants — together with three sitting lawmakers — took a dramatic activate Tuesday when dozens of potential jurors have been rejected by each the prosecution and the protection.
By Victoria G. Wesseh
In response to court docket officers, lots of these rejected have been deemed to have demonstrated indicators of bias, main legal professionals on either side to conclude that their inclusion may jeopardize the equity of the trial.
Regardless of the mass rejection, seven jurors have been efficiently chosen and sequestered within the basement of the Temple of Justice, the place they’ll stay whereas the number of the remaining 5 jurors and 6 alternates continues.
The event comes a day after the defendants appeared earlier than Prison Courtroom ‘A’, the place they pleaded not responsible to expenses linking them to the December 18, 2024 arson assault on the Capitol Constructing.
The case, introduced by the Ministry of Justice, was formally taken up by Choose Roosevelt Z. Willie following months of authorized disputes surrounding the gathering and admissibility of proof.
Throughout Monday’s proceedings, the indictment was publicly learn in court docket, and every of the defendants reaffirmed their not-guilty plea. Their plea prompted the court docket to start the empaneling of a 12-member jury that may in the end decide their guilt or innocence.
Jury choice is predicted to proceed till a full panel, together with alternates, is confirmed.
