By: Frank P Martin:
FISH TOWN: The Judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit Court in River Gee County has over turned trial jurors’ unanimous guilty verdict against five defendants into the disappearance of 61 years old woman.
The Assigned Circuit Judge of 15th Judicial Circuit court of River Gee County, His Honor Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh, has overturned and set aside the trial jurors unanimous guilty verdict of May 30, 2023, brought against five defendants, James Weah, Albert Weah, Pedesco Saywon, Charles Nyanti and Suku Sherman for Murder and Criminal conspiracy on ground that the Government of Liberia’s evidence brought against the defendants was not sufficient to be convicted.
Judge Wesseh Overturned the jurors guilty verdict over the weekend in Fish Town, River Gee County.
The defendants were in indicted in Grand Kru County in April 2022, for allegedly kidnapping and murdered of Madam Rachel Weah who reportedly went missing in Boah Dwehken on April 1, 2022.
The Defendants were arrested by the Police in Grand Kru for being in possession of dry skeleton (bones and skull) which they believed to be human bones and skull of Madam Rachel Weah.
Defendants were arrested charged and sent to court for further investigation.
Judge Wesseh, said that the government lawyers, in the case did not provide the best evidence, that is a forensic or DNA testing result that is linked to the missing woman, and has therefore awarded a new trial in line with section 22.1 of the Criminal procedure law of Liberia and section 25.6 of the Civil procedure law of Liberia.
Judge Wesseh’s action to overturn and set aside the unanimous guilty verdict of jurors came after the court heard argument in a seven counts motion for new trial filed by defence’s lawyers, led by Cllr Jerome C. Pour, challenging the Jurors unanimous guilty verdict against the defendants.
Meanwhile, prosecuting lawyer, Atty. Fofie V. Kamara, has excepted to Judge Wesseh ruling overturning the jurors’ verdict and has announced an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia for further hearing.
