FLASHBACK Lucas Richards being escorted to the court in Monrovia for his first appearance
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- Lucas Richards, a citizen of the United States who last year allegedly attempted to kill his Liberian girlfriend, wants to leave Liberia but the Court has barred him from doing so because his criminal case is still pending.
On February 22, 2024, defendant Richards filed a motion to the court requesting Judge Nelson Chinneh to grant his motion to be treated abroad.
Defendant Richards was arrested, charged and indicted by the Grand Jury of Montserrado County based on two charges to include Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder and Aggravated Assault.
According Judge Chinneh of Criminal Court ‘B’ granting the application for medical leave will be unjust to the victim; as such, the alleged crimes were committed in Liberia for which the defendant was pending prosecution.
Judge Chinneh said he’s in agreement with the prosecution contention that the request for medical leave put the defendant at flight risks; stating that, there are procedures to which the defendant can be granted the application for medical leave.
After perusing the documents, it does not show that the medical practitioners re
In the defendant’s motion for medical leave, he claimed that he is an American citizen and Missionary who has been doing Missionary work in Liberia since 2011, specifically in Grand Cape Mount and other surrounding counties.
The American National averred that he is a lawabiding person and that he suffers from Spinal cord, hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol; indicating that he is critically ill and if timely medical intervention is not made on his behalf at an advance medical facility it may cause his untimely death.
He said the appalling condition of the medical facilities in Liberia does not have require machines to diagnose his medical case; therefore, the court should grant him the Medical Leave which will enable him to travel to the United States of America to seek medical attention.
Also, Lucas prayed the court to grant him medical leave so that he can travel to the United States of America for better medical attention; adding that, his health condition is so appalling that if no intervention is immediately made, he will so meet his untimely demise as the health facilities in Liberia cannot attend to his medical conditions.
In resistance, prosecution said the motion made by Lucas is a calculated attempt, cleverly designed to seek the court’s approval for his permanent flight to America from the bailiwick of Liberia which will perpetually end the trial in total; disregarding the pain and suffering to which Jessica Llyord was unnecessarily subjected by him (Lucas Richards) without any legal justification, with the resultant effect of promoting impunity and lawlessness in Liberia.
Prosecution motion should be denied because it was filed in bad faith and merely for the purpose of baffling the case forever, thereby making the indictment an exercise in futility and denying justice to the victim. On February 22, 2024, defendant Richards filed a motion to the court requesting Judge Nelson Chinneh to grant his motion to be treated abroad.
Defendant Richards was arrested, charged and indicted by the Grand Jury of Montserrado County based on two charges to include Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder and Aggravated Assault.
According Judge Chinneh, granting the application for medical leave will be unjust to the victim; as such, the alleged crimes were committed in Liberia for which the defendant was pending prosecution.
Judge Chinneh said he’s in agreement with the prosecution contention that the request for medical leave put the defendant at flight risks; stating that, there are procedures to which the defendant can be granted the application for medical leave.