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Circuit Judge Barkon wants Death Penalty re-introduced, amidst rise in murder cases

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By Never G. Lomo,

BUCHANAN, Liberia- The Judge of the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Bassa County, Joe S. Barkon has called on state actors in Liberia to re-introduce the implementation of the death penalty, amidst of high increase in murder cases.

Judge Barkon made the disclosure when he delivered his charge at the formal opening of the November term of Court on the second Monday in November A. D. 2019.

Speaking at the ceremony, Judge Barkon said even though on the 31st of August 2005, Liberia acceded to the second optional protocol to the international convention on the civil and political Rights, aiming at the abolition of death penalty as provided for in Chapter 36, section 36.1 of the Criminal procedure law of Liberia.

Lawyers and others who attended the opening of the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court in Buchanan

Judge Barkon’s call for the implementation of the death penalty comes as European Union diplomats and other international Human Rights groups such as Amnesty International mount pressure on the Liberian government to in fact scrap the death penalty law on the books.

The Second Judicial Circuit Court of Grand Bassa County Judge noted that since Liberia acceded to this protocol, the country has been in compliance with suspension of death penalty.

However, he said the irony is that from research, it is shown over the past years and now that there are more homicide or murder cases and convicts from judgements of the Circuit courts around the country as compare to the period prior to the signing of the protocol.

Judge Barkon questioned is it that people got afraid to commit murder when they saw or heard about the hanging of Justin Obey or the hanging of James D. Anderson, Allen N. Yancy, Wreh Taryonoh, Philip B. Seton, Francis W. Nyepan, Thomas Barclay, Putu Dweh et al by the late Liberian President, Dr. Richard Tolbert Jr.d as compare to now.

Today, he said there is this perception in the public that murder convicts in prisons are well taken care of in prison, that they can get release either under executive clemency frequently or by some illegal means, thereby causing the perpetrators or would be perpetrators to remain fearless in committing such crime of murder.

The Grand Bassa County Circuit Court Judge called on state actors to re-think about the re-introduction of death penalty if need be so that it will serve as deterrence to would be murderers or the taker of life.

He further said in his charge that the irony of the law is that some countries that also acceded to the law are still enforcing death penalty either by electrocution, poisonous injection and other means.

Judge Barkon therefore reaffirmed his commitment to working with the county authorities both executive and Legislative branches of government, the local and national Bar and every sector of the country in ensuring that justice is dispense for the good of our society but will maintain the independence of the judiciary.

The Resident Judge of Grand Bassa County said the magisterial courts are challenged with public defenders, city solicitors and others capacities thereby making creating huge work for magistrates and Judges.

During the August A. D. term of Court, there were 38 cases comprised of both civil and criminal on the docket, out of which the court disposed of two criminal cases on its merits. They were done through jury trials and one of those criminal cases is the Sinoe Women tortured case which the seven defendants were sentenced to 45 years each.

Aditionally, about six cases were heard in which a divorce case was disposed of in other cases and these were subsequently ruled to trial during the August term of court.

The Supreme Court justice also acknowledged the economic constraint the country is facing adding that the leaving of UNMIL, Ebola, 14 years civil war, importation of goods, no road, electricity, which serve as engineer to country are causes of the economic challenge the country is facing.

Justice Kaba noted that some magistrates are the one destroying the judiciary system with bond issues which is always quoted by them 13.5 of criminal procedure law adding that the 13.5 quoted by magistrates has different motive behind it. He therefore called on the Judiciary to change their minds and attitude as being said by Dr. Lawerence Bropleh.

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