Cllr. Scott, Others Acquitted By: Yassah J Wright

The Supreme Court  has released former Chief Justice Gloria Musu-Scott and three of her family members on grounds that the prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence and there were no reasonable doubts to prove that the former Chief Justice and her family members committed those crimes that led to the death of the late Charloe Musu. Delivering the Opinion, Chief Justice Sie-A-NyeneG.Yuoh said the standard of proof to warrant a conviction in a criminal case is proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Chief Justice Yuoh stated that throughout the trial, the State bears the burden of establishing all elements of the crimes charged by the said standard of proof and in the instance where reasonable doubt is inferred from the evidence by the prosecution and the defendant in a criminal case is entitled to an acquittal. She indicated that a verdict presented by the jury may be set aside, where the verdict is contrary to the weight of the evidence and that the Prosecution having totally relied on circumstantial evidence but failed to meet the standard as required by law to connect  the chain needed to lead any reasonable mind to the conclusion of guilt that former Chief Justice and her three family members did murder Charloe Musu. The Chief Justice said circumstantial evidence is indirect evidence that does not, on its face, prove a fact in issue but gives rise to a logical inference that the fact exists. Circumstantial evidence requires drawing additional reasonable inferences in order to support the claim. She added that the Prosecution did not show any reasonable doubt but convicted Scott and three of her family members for murder. Chief Justice Yuoh further said the guilty verdict returned by the jury was against the weight of the evidence and is hereby set aside. Chief Justice Yuoh said in view of the final ruling of the trial court of Judge Roosevelt Z Willie and confirming the verdict of the jury is hereby reversed. The Chief Justice noted that former Chief Justice Scott, Ma Rebecca Youdeh Wisner, Getrude Newton and Alice Johnson are ordered immediately released from further detention at the Monrovia Central Prison and their civil rights, liberties and all other constitutional and statutory rights are hereby immediately restored, and it is hereby so ordered. Meanwhile, Solicitor General of Liberia, Augustine Fayiah, was fined US$100, and the entire Ministry of Justice fined US$200, by the Supreme Court for not appearing in court to under the ruling. According to Chief Justice Yuoh, there were no representatives from the Ministry of Justice in attendance, adding that the Ministry was served with the notice of assignment ‘today.’

 Later, SG Fayiah said he was the lead lawyer of former Chief Justice Scott and three of her family members at the Criminal Court “A”, so he cannot represent the Justice Ministry because that will be a conflict of interest. On August 27, 2024, a decision whether the Supreme Court might set aside conviction and life sentence imposed by Criminal Court ‘A’ Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, in 2023 against former Chief Justice Gloria Musu-Scott and three family expected to be delivered. The four were convicted in December 2023 for the stabbing death of Musu-Scott’s niece, CharloeMusu. They were also found guilty of conspiracy and making false statements to law enforcement. However, during oral arguments, the justices were concerned about the prosecution’s evidence to link each of the defendants to the murder weapon. They were also concerned if all of the defendants used the same knife to stab Charloe Musu, one of the key evidences relied on for the conviction.