By staff writer
Monrovia- As the murder trial involving former Chief Justice Gloria Musu-Scott and her family members intensifies at Criminal Court “A”, the court on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 disqualified two jurors who the court says came in contact with family members and the public while undergoing medical treatment at the John F. Kennedy Medical facility in Monrovia.
Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court “A” disbanded two of the fifteen jurors who were selected and sequestrated to serve as judges of facts to bring down a verdict of guilty or not-guilty either for or against the defendants at the end of the trial.
Stating the reason for the disbarment of the two jurors, He said in open court that the two jurors felt seriously sick during the course of the trial and was taken to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia.
He explained that while at the medical facility, the two jurors came in contact with the public when their family members entered the hospital to visit and interact with them.
He added that it is normal regulation that when the juries are sequestrated, they remain under control and are not to interact with any member of the public until the case is dispose of.
Judge Willie noted that while the Jury’s law called for fifteen member jurors’ panel, the both parties (prosecution & defense lawyers) have agreed that the remaining thirteen jurors should remain on the panel and hear the trial.
The trial continues on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at which time the state is expected to produce her second witness to testify and prove the guilt of the defendants.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Court has finally granted defense lawyers’ request to fly into country a foreign pathologist to conduct an independent autopsy on the dead body of Miss Charloe Musu, the daughter of former Chief Justice Gloria Musu-Scott, who was gruesomely murdered early this year at the home of her mother in Brewerville Township.
The defense lawyers of Cllr. Gloria Musu-Scott will also have the opportunity to visit the crime scene-the place where murder is said to have taken place, the court said.
Judge Roosevelt Z. Wellie of Criminal Court “A” said on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 that the decision is intended to give the defense lawyers relevant information about the investigation on the murder saga so as to better prepare themselves to defend the defendants.
Judge Willie however informed the defense team that all expenses relating to the autopsy will be on the defendants and not the Government of the Republic of Liberia.
Judge Willie further stated that in other for the foreign pathologist to do his work here, he/she must first submit his credentials and other relevant documents to the Liberian Medical authority for onward verification and clearance four or five days to the trial.
He mandated the state prosecutors to preserve the body for as long as they can to enable autopsy be conducted in a transparent manner.
