-As Defendant Jonathan Williams pleads innocent
By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
TUBMANBURG, Liberia- Defendant Jonathan Williams, who is charged with allegedly murdering young Liberian journalist Tyron Browne Monrovia, has pleaded innocent to the crime in the indictment, as the trial continues at the 11th Judicial Circuit in Bomi County, west of Monrovia.
The Court on Monday, February 24, 2020 issued a subpoena Ad-testificandum on former police inspector General, Chris Massaquoi to appear in court this Wednesday, February 26, 2020 to testify on behalf of state based on a request from state lawyers headed by Wesseh A. Wesseh.
The Journalist’s alleged murderer was indicted by the state murdering Super FM/TV Journalist Tyron Brown on April 15, 2018 in Du-port road 704 community.
After pleading not guilty, lawyers representing Jonathan Williams headed by Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu (but present in today’s hearing was Cllr. Jimmy Bombo) requested waved jury trial.
They instead requested for Beach in line with Article 51(h) of the 1986 Constitution. The request which prosecution interposes no objection.
Usually, Beach trial is one in which the judge serves as both judge and jury.
The court says it is the right of a Defendant to wave trial by jury in keeping with Article 21(h) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.
After pleading innocent, state Lawyers produced its first set of witnesses to testify.
Their first witness in person of Jouana Gwels who testified in open court said, she came from the airport tired and lied in her living room chair in the Du-port road community behind 704 but later went to attend nature in her bathroom.
Witness Gwels testified that after using the bathroom, she realized that she had not taken her medication. She subsequently went to the kitchen for water to take her pills during which she heard noise in the compound.
At that point, she said she began spying through her window and saw defendant Williams and his two girls Alice and Edwina Youtee, whom he (Williams) claims are his nieces.
Madam Gwels further told court that when she spied through her window, she saw defendant Williams’ two hands behind his back moving around in a confused mood. She later came out of her house and asked him what happened? But she was told by the defendant it was not her business; a response that made her go back inside take rest in order to be able rise early the next morning.
The witness also added that she was called on cell phone by one of her church mates asking her about Massa Kennedy, but she responded that Massa Kennedy was arrested and taken to the police headquarters for investigations. Later on, she (Jouana Gwels) reported herself to the police.
The witness, who was cross examined by defense lawyer Cllr. Jimmy Bombo, confirmed that when she heard the noise, she was scared and hesitant to come outside considering the fact that the area is infested with criminals.
After being asked to name three of the criminal activities in the area, state lawyers interposed an objection to the question which was upheld by the court.
The State’s second witness, Massa Kennedy had testified in court that on April 15, 2018, she went on the Old road for a regular monthly meeting and returned home between 7:45-8 P.M and went to bed immediately.
She further told open court that Jouna Gwels later try to wake her up, but she just did not get up. For the second time, she said Gwels again tried to wake her up and informed her that armed robbers had entered their premises.
At that point, she said she got up and went in her living room at which time she heard defendant Williams and two nieces saying “I think he’s hurt”.
Massa then responded by saying if he’s hurt, take him to the hospital.”
She said the defendant told her as he had earlier told Jouna Gwels, that it was non of her business.
Massa further said in her testimony that when she went to bed, she received a strange call from someone telling her she was in search of an apartment. But she (Massa) told the person that she was just leaving the police headquarters heading to Marshall road and when she got on the Marshall road, she received a call from the same person again that she was coming to visit her (Massa) the following day. But she said she didn’t see the caller that day.
The next day, she explained that she woke up to begin her daily routine, their premises was filled with police presence. She said she was then informed that she was being arrested in connection to the murder of Tyron Browne. Massa said she was then detained at the police headquarters.
The witness also identified defendant Jonathan Williams and her statement made at the police headquarters.
The witness was therefore cross examined by defense lawyers present in court headed by Cllr. Jimmy Bombo.
State lawyers’ third witness identified as Ceasar L. Kennedy testified that on April 15, 2018, he came from out and met Alice and Edwina Youtee along with a man known as Ernest Karmue in the yard but noticed an unusual atmosphere.
Witness Ceasar Kennedy during testimony told court that after he saw the yard different, he decided to ask as to what was going on, at which time deefendant Williams told him that he was attacked and that he thinks the man that attacked him was hurt.
Caesar said he asked “Why can’t you take the person to hospital”?
Thereafter, he went to his house and called Ernest Karmue to give him some food to eat. While eating, the defendant asked him to return without delay.
He said on reaching, defendant Williams’ Jeep was already beating in the fence. The defendant then asked Caesar to help him take victim Tyron Brown to the hospital.
Mr. Kennedy explained that when defendant Williams drove his Jeep outside the fence to where deceased Tyron Brown was lying down not far from his fence, Defendant Williams had transparent plastic with hand gloves and gave him one of the gloves to put on his hand and he opened his the trunk of his car, laid down the back seat and asked him (Ceasar) to help defendant Williams to put the late Brown in the car.
Witness Kennedy in his testimony in Chief told court that while lifting deceased, he noticed the Journalist was very heavy, as the two of them couldn’t lift him up to place him in the car. They consequently called Ernest, who was also given one glove to wear and help put the body in the car.
After succeeding in putting the the victim in the jeep, they drove off toward the Kingdomcare hospital.
After driving few meters away, Caesar explained, Williams stopped the jeep, pulled out the mutilated body and dropped it by the roadside and got back into the vehicle headed for their respective homes.
Witness Ceasar disclosed that when they returned home, defendant Williams took off his gloves, placed them over a septic tank and instructed them to do same.
Caesar’s testimony also revealed that Williams asked Alice Youtee; one of the defendants in the case to bring matches and gas to burn the gloves.
He said after the gloves were burnt and they returned home, they decided against reporting the matter, as they had already aided in dumping the body of Browne.
Mr. Williams was arrested, investigated and detained at the police headquarters and later forwarded to court for criminal facilitation.
Witness Ceasar Kennedy, Massa Kennedy and Jouan Gwels were arrested and charged by the Liberian national police for criminal conspiracy but they were Nulle Prosequoi by the state to testify on their behalf.
Defendant Jonathan Williams was charged with murder while his two nieces, Edwina Youtee and Alice Youtee were charged with hindering law enforcement.
The case was transferred to Bomi County based on change of venue motion.
Prosecution Lawyers have meanwhile asked the 11th Judicial Circuit Court for continuance in the murder case, a request Judge, Nancy Sammy granted. The matter has been assigned for Wednesday.