The Resident Circuit Judge of Criminal Court “A”, Roosevelt Z Willie, has held the Justice Minister of the Republic of Liberia, Frank Musa Dean and his Deputies in contempt. Judge Willie stated that to conduct a sentencing hearing, which is based on investigative report of the Defendants characters and/or reputations prior to the commission of the crimes found in chapter 31, sub section 31.5 of the Criminal Procedure Law, which states in part “When Mandatory.” He said the Court shall not impose sentence without first ordering the probation service of the Court to make a pre-sentence investigation of the defendants and according due consideration to a written report of such investigation where: (a) The defendant has been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year’s imprisonment. The Judge further said that the predication upon the said requirement for a sentencing report, this Court on December 21, 2023, through the Clerk, Gabriel J. Smith, wrote the Probation Office of the Ministry of Justice assigned on the compound of the Temple of Justice, the said communication was received by Mr. Prince Tumbey. Judge Willie pointed out that on December 27, 2023, at 10:1 8am, in that communication that is referenced to herein, the Probation Office was mandated to forward to this Court the investigative report of the Defendants on or before today, Thursday, January 4., 2024, at 9:00am prompt. He revealed that since the 27th of December up to 9:00am, the Court has not received the investigative report from the Ministry of Justice through its Probation Office, when the Director for the Probation Office, Prince Tumbey was asked why he has not submitted the Probation Report; he informed the Court through Telephone, that since he received the communication from this court, his Ministry that is the Ministry of Justice has not been able to provide any funding for tie office transportation to enable them go on the field to conduct the investigation. Judge said this Court says that information in itself is a ground for contempt and this Court hereby holds the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Musa Dean in contempt for his institution failure to act in confirmative with this communication; that is, the provision of the Investigative Report to this Court, and the Minister of Justice long with his Director of Probation that is responsible for this report are to appear before this Court to show reason why this Court should not hold them in contempt Friday, January 5, 2024, at 10:00am prompt. The Criminal Court “A” Judge stressed that final ruling in these proceedings is rescheduled for Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 9:30am prompt. Judge Willie further said that the failure of the Ministry of Justice to provide the investigative report on or before Monday, January 8, 2024, at the end of the day’s work which is at 4:00pm, this Court will be left with no alternative but to take the appropriate measure, and it is hereby so ordered. It can be re-called that on December 21st 2023, the former Chief Justice Gloria Musu-Scott and her three family members had been brought down with guilty verdict in open. “We the trial jurors in the case, after careful consideration of the evidence, hereby carefully agree that the defendants former Chief Justice Gloria Musu-Scott, Gertrude Newton, Alice Johnson and Rebecca Youdeh are hereby judged guilty of the crime of murder, criminal conspiracy, and raising false alarm to to law enforcement officers. Meanwhile, there were fifteen jurors on the penal, twelve makes the determination of the verdicts and three on the standby that just in case any of the twelve jurors sick or any problem, those three jurors can replaced them. Eleven (11) of the jurors came down with a guilty verdict and one of the jurors gave not guilty verdict. During arguments, Prosecution states that all the evidence the defendants show in court was not exact, so the jurors should charge them guilty because they intentionally killed the late CharloeMusu. Prosecution said it is not necessary that you see a person committing a crime before been guilty adding that based on the circumstances and their controversial testimonies proves that they killed girl the late Charloe Musu in the house. Prosecution noted that they went to the home of former Chief Justice Scott where the incident occurred; they did not see any evidence that someone entered the house to killed CharloeMusu. They argued that the former Chief Justice contaminated with his own evidence and lie to the police that unknown men attacking her house so that the public can seek sympathy and for her to carry on her evil acts. However, the defendants lawyers said that throughout the trial, prosecution never prove any evidence that former Chief Justice Gloria Musu-Scott and others killed the late Charloe Musu. The defendants lawyers stated that since the prosecution did not provide any evidence that former Chief Justice Gloria Musu-Scott and others killed Charloe Musu, the jurors should set them free. Defendants lawyers argued that prosecution did not show any cause why former Chief Justice Musu-Scott and family should in jail and did not show any purpose of the defendants killing Charloe Musu based on that the jurors should bring a not guilty verdict because the defendants did contribute to the deceased death. Defendants lawyers argued that the former Chief Justice Scott and her three family members are ignorance and that Prosecution did Moreover, the trial lasted from August 28, 2023 to December 21, 2023. The State was represented as per records Present in Court are the following lawyers: Cllr. Bobby W. Livingstone, Director for Financial Crimes, Ministry of Justice, Cllr. J. Adolphus Karnoua, II, Director for Civil Litigation of the Ministry of Justice, and Atty. Randolph D. M. O Johnson Cllr. Sumo KutuAkoi, to be joined by Cllr. Swaliho Sesay, Acting County Attorney for Montserrado County, and Atty. J. Dexter Pieyoue. Prosecution said that they are in Court and by leave of Court to spread a submission after parties representations are noted and submits. While the Defendants continued to be represented as per records with the following counsels present to be joined by all other counsels of records. Those present include: Cllr. Augustine C. Fayiah, Cllr. Amara Sheriff, Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi, Cllr. Dr. S. Mohammed Sheriff, and Cllr. Richard J. Scott, Jr. Counsel says that they are in Court and ready to proceed. And respectfully submit.
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