Monrovia – Within the quiet hallways of the Capehart Funeral Residence in Monrovia on Saturday, June 28, the somber notes of mourning echoed by means of the pews as family members gathered to bid farewell to Ms. Ruth Dennis Robert.
By Selma Lomax | [email protected]
Her casket sat adorned with flowers, however one seat remained painfully empty: that of her son, 23-year-old Thomas Etheridge— who, regardless of repeated appeals, was barred from attending his personal mom’s funeral.
Etheridge, a suspect within the extremely publicized Capitol arson case, has not been convicted of any crime. However in a transfer that has reignited debate over justice and humanity inside Liberia’s authorized system, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) refused a request to permit him compassionate go away to pay his last respects.
His authorized crew, led by Counselor Jonathan Massaquoi, had written to the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Oswald Tweh, on June 25. In a proper and heartfelt letter, they knowledgeable the Ministry of the loss of life of Etheridge’s organic mom on June 16 and requested that the MOJ petition the suitable court docket for a brief launch, in accordance with Part 34.20(1) of the Felony Process Regulation of Liberia.
“It’s with deep sorrow that we inform you of the passing of Mr. Etheridge’s organic mom, Ms. Ruth Dennis Robert,” the letter learn. “Funeral rites are scheduled for Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at Capehart Funeral Residence, adopted by interment on the household burial web site in Harrisburg, Montserrado County… to allow Mr. Etheridge to attend his mom’s funeral and pay his last respects.”
Regardless of the clear authorized provision for compassionate go away in Liberia’s legal code, the Ministry supplied no pathway ahead. By June 29, it was confirmed that the Ministry had declined the request, citing undefined “safety and procedural issues.”
What adopted was a wave of public condemnation and emotional appeals. “At the moment, Tom’s mom will probably be laid to relaxation. We requested a compassionate launch for him to attend his mom’s funeral, and the MOJ refused to ask the court docket to grant it,” an affiliate of Counselor Massaquoi lamented. “These individuals are evil. No matter occurred to harmless till confirmed responsible?”
Throughout WhatsApp and social media platforms, the problem shortly gained traction, with residents expressing anger and disappointment. One person wrote merely, “Sure however refused to let him go to bury his mom.” Part 34.20(1) of Liberia’s Felony Process Regulation clearly permits for incarcerated people —significantly pre-trial detainees — to obtain non permanent launch for deeply private issues like funerals, weddings, or severe sickness of speedy members of the family.
On this occasion, Etheridge is just not a convicted legal. He’s, below Liberian legislation, presumed harmless. And but, the Ministry of Justice, with out submitting any formal objection or utility with the court docket, determined to disclaim him the prospect to grieve.
“A compassionate go away request is just not particular remedy,” famous one Monrovia-based authorized analyst. “It’s a basic human proper. Denial with out clear grounds feeds into issues about selective justice.”
Some contained in the Ministry have unofficially floated the concept the choice was made partly to keep away from any public disruption or threat of flight. The Capitol arson case is a politically delicate and high-profile matter, and the presence of one in all its suspects at a public gathering — even below escort —might have stirred undesirable consideration.
Nonetheless, authorized students argue that safety dangers might have been mitigated by means of correct planning. “If the federal government can present armed escort for convicted warlords going to court docket, certainly it might do the identical for a younger man burying his mom,” mentioned a retired decide, who requested to not be named.
On the funeral, Etheridge’s household bore the twin weight of mourning a cherished one and the ache of absence. His elder sister, her face streaked with tears, whispered in anguish:
“My son needs to be right here. He deserves a minimum of this one last likelihood.” Courtroom sources confirmed that the Ministry of Justice by no means filed any utility to the judiciary to provoke the compassionate go away. In the meantime, protection counsel indicated that they explored emergency petitions however had been met with authorized bottlenecks and useful resource constraints, making it practically not possible to maneuver by means of the courts in time.
With the funeral now behind them, Etheridge’s authorized crew is popping its consideration to what many consider is an avoidable injustice. Massaquoi has signaled that he might petition the Supreme Courtroom — not solely to problem the denial of compassionate go away however to hunt broader judicial interpretation in regards to the discretionary function of the Ministry of Justice in such humanitarian circumstances.
“This isn’t nearly Thomas anymore,” mentioned a supply acquainted with the authorized crew’s subsequent steps. “It’s about how this authorities interprets compassion, and whether or not the rule of legislation applies equally—even in moments of grief.”
The silence from the Ministry of Justice since its refusal has solely fueled criticism. For a lot of Liberians, the case has turn out to be a microcosm of how state energy is exercised in a democracy nonetheless therapeutic from a long time of civil battle, mistrust, and trauma.
As Etheridge stays behind bars — nonetheless untried and unconvicted — the state’s refusal to let him stand beside his mom’s grave raises profound questions on Liberia’s ethical and authorized compass. Within the phrases of 1 mourner on the funeral: “Even in loss of life, justice ought to have a soul. However at the moment, we noticed none.” And so, because the mud settles on the household burial web site in Harrisburg, the query lingers within the Liberian air: when compassion is denied, what does justice actually imply?
