22/12/2023
Monrovia –
Former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott and three others will continue to serve their prison sentence after being found guilty of the crimes of Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, and raising a false alarm to Law Enforcement Officers.
Jurors in the proceeding came down with a majority “guilty verdict” after reviewing arguments from both the prosecution and defense as well as making their determination in the deliberation room, declaring her guilty for all crimes levied.
On June 12, 2023, the defendants were charged by the Special Grand Jury of Montserrado on allegations of Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, and giving a false alarm to police.
According to the charge, “The defendant’s actions violated Title 26, chapter 14, section 14.1; Chapter 10, section 10.4; and Chapter 12, section 12.33 of the new penal law of Liberia,” the indictment stated.
According to the indictment, on February 22, 2023, at about 10:00 PM, Cllr. Gloria Musu-Scott, Gertrude Newton, Alice Johnson, and Rebecca Youdeh Wisner, “with criminal intent, armed themselves with a sharp instrument believed to be a knife and pepper spray. They willfully, intentionally, purposely, and maliciously inflicted several bodily injuries on Charlotte Musu, including her chest, right hand, left thigh, and left armpit, leading to her death and thereby committing the crime of murder.”
However, they all pleaded not guilty to charges against them.
The defense said the defendants are being wrongly accused of a crime they know nothing about and that the state has failed to go after the main perpetrators.
According to Defense Lawyers, the prosecution has failed to adduce evidence beyond all reasonable doubt. But the prosecution noted that its evidence and the circumstances surrounding the incident clearly show that Defendant Scott and three others are liable for the death of the later Charloe Musu.
The final argument which drew the presence of key government officials saw a majority guilty verdict.
Eleven of the
