Monrovia-The Capitol Arson trial took a dramatic twist on Wednesday, December 3, after Decide Roosevelt Z. Willie issued a decisive ruling on a collection of objections surrounding defendants’ statements, then moved to dam the usage of a prosecution laptop computer and eject two technicians over considerations raised by the protection.
By Willie N. Tokpah
Decide Willie dominated that a number of of the statements the prosecution sought to introduce by way of its first witness wouldn’t be admitted into proof.
Citing Part 25.2 of the Civil Process Regulation of Liberia, the Decide emphasised that paperwork have to be correctly recognized and testified to earlier than they are often marked or admitted.
Nevertheless, he held that statements made by the defendants themselves, whereas “within the dock,” needs to be marked and handed to the trial jurors, supplied that they have been correctly testified to by the prosecution witness, LNP officer Raphael Wilson of the Crime Companies Division.
On the protection’s claims that the statements have been obtained by way of torture, Decide Willie stated the problem had already been addressed by each Felony Courtroom “A” and the Supreme Courtroom.
He added that the defendants have been represented by counsel throughout police investigations, and any objections to mistreatment ought to have been raised by their legal professionals at that stage.
He additional cited medical studies despatched to the court docket by which defendants reportedly denied being tortured, underscoring that the Supreme Courtroom had already affirmed the findings.
“Defendants By no means Wrote the Statements”
Earlier than the ruling, protection counsel had launched a number of objections throughout the direct examination of Officer Wilson, arguing that, the defendants didn’t write the statements attributed to them; some legal professionals who represented them have been compelled upon them; the statements have been irrelevant and had not been served on the protection as required by legislation and that the paperwork have been extracted by way of torture and coercion.
Prosecution resisted, arguing that the protection “missed the authorized timing” for such objections, and insisted the problems had already been disposed of at larger ranges of the judiciary.
Pressure Escalates, Protection Says Proof Is “Made Up”
Probably the most explosive confrontation got here after the ruling, when the protection accused the prosecution of trying to introduce “made-up” proof.
The dispute started when one of many technicians helping prosecution witness Wilson abruptly left the courtroom with out permission and returned with one other laptop computer supposed to show video proof.
Protection counsel argued that such conduct raised severe integrity considerations in regards to the digital proof being introduced.
Protection additional complained {that a} feminine technician helping the prosecution had been seen utilizing her cellphone, allegedly speaking throughout the proceedings, one other purple flag, they stated, for safeguarding the authenticity of the digital materials.
Decide Bars Laptop computer, Removes Technicians
Decide Willie instantly acted on the considerations and barred the newly launched laptop computer from getting used.
Decide Willie additionally ordered each technicians to depart the courtroom completely.
This choice got here although the technicians had already begun displaying video and audio recordings, which the prosecution maintained have been essential items of proof within the Capitol Arson case.
Proceedings Suspended Till December 9
With the disputes unresolved and the court docket’s evidentiary pathway disrupted, Decide Willie postponed the matter to Tuesday, December 9, at 9:00 a.m., the place the prosecution will try and proceed with its first witness underneath heightened scrutiny.
The Capitol Arson trial continues to command nationwide consideration, as arguments over process, admissibility, and the integrity of proof intensify with every listening to.
