Liberia: Julu, Dorbor Guilty, But
Posted on: January 30th, 2008The Inquirer (Monrovia)
30 January 2008
Posted to the web 30 January 2008
D. Webster Cassell
The Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice yesterday literally transformed into a dramatic scene when Judge Charles K. Williams out of anger ordered cameramen in the court to take the photograph of the Trial Jury in the ongoing treason trial following claims that they had received bribe.
The entire court went wild after the judge instructed that the jurors photo be taken, when in fact the Trial Jury have not been disbanded neither guilty of any crime, but without further investigation the judge rendered a decision based on allegations from the defense counsel.
The judge’s decision exposed the jurors to public ridicule as people came from all over the court jeering at the trial jury indicting them of being rogues who sell justice to the executive branch of government.
The drama began after the trial jury handed down a unanimous guilty verdict indicating that both defendants, Charles Julu and Andrew Dorbor did conspire to stage a coup plot with the intention to unseat the Ellen led Government.
After listening to the jury’s verdict, the defense counsel under the leadership of Cllr. T. Dempster Brown made an application with a call to investigate claims that the jurors had received some compensation from the Montserrado County Attorney Samuel Jacobs to hand down a guilty verdict.
Cllr. Brown informed the court that they had received reliable information that the County Attorney was seen around the grounds of the Temple of Justice and had promised the jurors US$800.00 each if the verdict be in their favor.
“Upon my arrival yesterday morning, I headed for the Judges’ Chamber where I was informed that the County Attorney had tampered with the jurors,” Cllr. Brown added.
He further revealed that the County Attorney also promised the jurors US$150 Christmas bonus, something that he said came to the attention of the judge.
Cllr. Brown however called on the court to remand the jurors in prison until the allegation is investigated and proven beyond all reasonable doubts.
At that moment, Judge Williams himself revealed that sometime last year prior to the Christmas the county Attorney visited his office and informed him that the government is contemplating on finding US$150.00 bonus for the jurors.
” But I told him that it will be imprudent and will be consider as a bribe if any amount of money will be given to the jurors for so-called Christmas bonus,” Judge Williams stated.
“I immediately called the jurors in my chamber and warned them that no one should consider taking bribe or any money in an attempt to divert their decision,” he said.
The crowd then interrupted the judge’s deliberation as everybody went helter-skelter in the courtroom.
Judge Williams stood amazingly watching the crowd, as he could in no way contain it until officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) intervened by putting an end to the ugly scenario.
The judge could not continue his deliberation and later announced the adjournment of the case to today at the same venue.
The trial jury described the judge’s decision as an insult and a physical disgrace to their performance and therefore exposed them to public disrepute.
The hubbub in the courtroom never quelled down even after Judge Williams had announced the court’s postponement of the case for today at 10 a.m.
The jurors alleged that the judge was angry at their verdict because according to them at a point in time, he invited them to receive a compensation so as to divert their verdict but they refused.
The judge could not address himself to the allegation because of the tension that mounted as the result of the judge’s decision that people should take the jurors’ picture, a clear indication that a judgment was rendered before investigation.
From all indication, the judge’s decision clearly shows that the jurors had already been convicted of the crime of bribery.
Categories: News | Comments (RSS) | Post a comment | Trackback | |
Loading ...