22/01/2025
Update
Capitol Arson Case: Explosive Preliminary Hearing Unveils Key Evidence, According to State Prosecutors.
The Stipendiary Magistrate of the Monrovia City Court, L. Ben Barco, has begun preliminary hearings in the alleged arson case involving the burning of the Capitol building.
Prosecution's first witness, Rafell A. Wilson, testified that evidence linking the burning of the Capitol building was found in defendant Thomas Etheridge's phone conversation. Today's preliminary hearing was held following a defense request for a preliminary examination of the defendants, in accordance with Chapter 12 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
Currently, the defendants are represented by Jonathan Massaquor, M. Wilkins Wright, and Cllr Elisha Forkeyoh, while the state is represented by all its counselors and prosecuting attorneys. According to the state witness, a white JAC pickup truck bearing license plate HOR-98 has been identified as one of the vehicles assigned to embattled Speaker Jonathan Koffa.
Wilson detailed that during the December 17, 2024, protest, which escalated into a riot, co-defendant Eric Sasay and his accomplice assaulted PSU officer Amara Bility and seized his weapon. At that time, defendant Thomas was not present. Later that day, Sasay called Thomas, informing him that they had "taken care of" the policeman. Thomas then inquired about the officer's whereabouts, to which Sasay replied they left him lying in the street at Jallah Town.
Wilson further testified that all the defendants are employees of the Capitol building except for John Nyanti, a correctional officer with the Ministry of Justice. He added that the Liberia National Police considered 65 persons as individuals of interest, but defendant Thomas was released to Cllr Jonathan Massaquor's custody.
Wilson concluded, "On December 18, 2024, defendant Etheridge's criminal complicity was unknown. However, during the investigation, a link was established, prompting us to contact his lawyer to bring him back to answer for his involvement in the arson attack at the Capitol."
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