By Lincoln G. Peters
Protection legal professionals representing former Home Speaker, Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa, colleagues, and several other others have termed the Prosecution’s request and submission for a continuance within the ongoing Capital constructing arson trial as bad-faith delay ways.
In legislation, continuance is a postponement or rescheduling of a courtroom listening to, trial, or different continuing to a future date, granted by a decide upon a celebration’s request or, generally, on the decide’s personal initiative for legitimate causes reminiscent of needing extra time to collect proof, witness unavailability, or lawyer conflicts. Nonetheless, courts steadiness this with the necessity for fast justice. It’s basically a authorized delay that requires “good trigger” and a proper movement, with judges usually reluctant to grant it repeatedly to forestall abuse.
After practically two weeks of direct and cross-examination by each the prosecution and the protection, jurors and the courtroom on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, concluded questioning the state’s first witness, Investigator Refael Wilson, which sharply centered on the standard, supply, and credibility of proof introduced within the ongoing Capitol Constructing fireplace trial.
Following the conclusion of their questions, the witness was discharged by the courtroom. At the moment, the protection requested that the prosecution make their second witness obtainable so the trial might proceed. The decide granted the request, at which level he requested the prosecution to offer their second witness.
However surprisingly, the protection prayed the courtroom for continuance to allow them carry their second witness, on the grounds that he’s not within the bailiwick of the courtroom.
Prosecution additional indicated that the request can also be supposed to adequately put together the witness, including that this request is made in good religion and to not delay the trial.
” At this stage, the prosecution prayed this courtroom for a continuance on this continuing to offer and produce their second witness on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. The prosecution says it didn’t anticipate the juror and the courtroom to relaxation with the witness immediately. Prosecution says this request is made in good religion and never supposed to extend this trial” they conclude.
However, to which software the protection resisted, warning that for the courtroom to grant such a request can be very harmful for the trial, on the grounds that the request is made in dangerous religion and supposed to delay the trial, whereas praying the courtroom to quash the request.
In line with the protection, the prosecutor is conscious, as introduced on Monday, that the continuing will probably be postponed to Wednesday, as instructed by the Supreme Courtroom of Liberia, because of the Christmas celebration, throughout which some Judiciary functionaries could have a half-day working hour.
Moreover, they added that the time the courtroom and the juror have rested with the witness could be very early (11:14 am); subsequently, the prosecutor has sufficient time to carry their subsequent witness from the record of 10 witnesses they’ve earmarked.
” So, the justification that their witness will not be within the bailiwick of the courtroom is fake as a result of the prosecutor has an inventory of about ten witnesses; subsequently, if the opposite will not be prepared, they will carry the opposite. It is a delaying tactic to delay this trial. That is additionally a violation of the defendants’ constitutional rights to a speedy trial and to motion. So, we prayed that this courtroom deny the applying and allowed the prosecution to proceed. He said.
Having listened to each events’ submissions and arguments, Felony Courtroom “A” Choose Roosevelt Z. Willie referred to as the events to a quick convention across the bar concerning the matter.
Primarily based on the session, the decide upheld the Prosecution’s request, saying, “The Prosecution’s request is granted and matter suspended. The prosecutor will present their second witness on Friday, December 26, 2025, because the trial continues,” he concluded.
