-After last Defense witness testified: “I was forced to make statement without lawyer, with Gun pointing on my head”
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TUBMANBURG, Liberia- Verdict is to be handed down tomorrow (Friday, March 13, 2020) by the Judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court here in the capital of Bomi County, western Liberia after the close of testimonies from witnesses.
One of the nieces of Defendant Jonathan Williams, who is on trial for allegedly killing Super FM/TV Journalist Tyron Brown, Edwina Youtie testified in Court on Monday March 2, 2020. She claimed that she was forced to make a statement at the Liberian National Police headquarters in Monrovia without any lawyer.
She also alleged said that gun was pointed at her head when they was first arrested in connection to killing of Journalist Tyron Brown in Du-port road behind the 704 night club in the Monrovia suburb of Paynesville.
Any Defendant accused of criminal offense should be represented by a lawyer before making any statement or he/she should remain silent as it is a matter of law but was never done by police authorities or was not taken into consideration.
Witness Edwina Youti told the court that Defendant Jonathan Williams is her late father’s younger brother from the same mother. But it was widely speculated in the public when the alleged killing took place that victim Tyron Brown was her boyfriend, while Defendant Williams was a god father to her.
Explaining her side of the story regarding the tragic death of Journalist Brown, Edwina said on April 15, 2018 (Sunday night), she was doing her school assignment in their living room when Alice Youti (her younger sister) came running from the room towards her. She shouted that someone is knocking at their window. But when she asked: who was that, the person told her to look through the window.
Edwina Youti told her that maybe it could be Ernest Karmue, but Alice responded to her by saying that the voice doesn’t sound like Ernest. And so, she (Alice) was going to tell their uncle Jonathan Williams.
The witness further testified that her younger sister went on to tell their uncle, Jonathan Williams. And he came in the room asking who was that four times, but there was no response from the individual. Since there was no response from their window, Jonathan Williams later went to the living room and asked the same question, but yet there was no response again. He finally decided to come outside to see who was knocking while she was still in the living room busy doing her assignment.
Defendant Jonathan Williams niece, Edwina Youti said while she was busy with her assignment, she heard her uncle screaming and saying you knock my head on the wall. In no time, she ran outside on their front porch and stood on the step and saw someone running outside the fence and she saw Ernest standing in his garage.
Testifying on her uncle behalf, after she saw Ernest in his garage she asked him, why is it that you standing here and allow someone to attack uncle Jonathan? But Ernest reply was I don’t know the strange person came from and the way saw attacking their uncle, Jonathan. “I don’t want to come closer because I think he has different intention,” she added.
In no time, Massa and Jounna came out from their apartment and asked Jonathan what was happening. She said their uncle responded by saying that someone came to attack him in the yard but he thinks the person is hurt.
According to her, Massa Kennedy told their Jonathan if the person was hurt, he should take him to hospital. After that, their uncle sent Alice in the house to get his better flashlight. She, Edwina, Alice and their uncle went on a search for victim Browne. They walked down the road as far to the palm tree, but couldn’t see the victim and on their way back, it was when their uncle saw the person lying down between their fence and another fence, she explained.
Narrating further, when she said when she went closer and flashed her phone light in the person’s face, she yelled: Tyron. Then her uncle asked her if she knew the person and her answer was yes, as she started crying.
The Defense second witness stated that after seeing the tragic incident, she ran in house and never came out until the next morning.
Following the next day, in the morning, when she came outside preparing hot water to her uncle, officers of the Liberian national police came pointing gun at her yelling at her telling them. They were told that they should get back in the house while their uncle was sitting in the living room, asking them what was happening outside. But they responded saying officers told to get back in their house.
After that, Jonathan came outside and instructed her to carry water for him in the bathroom so that he can go to the police headquarters to report himself. And she did what he told her to do. It was when police came backing at their front door and put everyone outside, ordering them to get in a vehicle packed with police officers.
While at the police headquarters, the Defense witness alleged that she was threatened by the police IG, saying that information reaching them said that her boyfriend, Jonathan killed Tyron because he had a love affair with her. But she responded with a No and said that Jonathan Williams was her uncle and he is like a father to her.
On the other hand, armed officers at police headquarters were pointing the gun on her head, saying if she doesn’t say the truth, she, her sister Alice along with their uncle could be jailed for life. And more besides, she claimed that she never ever invited a guest at their home without their uncle permission.
For her part, Alice who first heard the person knocking on their window and ran to her sister out of fear but her asked whether it was Ernest Karmue but she Alice Youti said No.
Both Alice and Edwina Youti’s testimonies corroborated, meaning that they said the same thing.
They were cross examined by state lawyers headed by Cllr Wesseh A. Wesseh and Bomi County Attorney Abraham Tamba Gboree.
While, the Defendants continued to be represented by Cllr Jimmy Bombo, Atty. Steven J.S.C.Kai, Atty. Lawrence Tomah and Cllr. Jallah Barbu among others.
Both prosecution and Defense lawyers rested with materials and documentaries evidence in full, awaiting final argument this Friday, March 6, 2020.
Meanwhile, state lawyers during the proceedings produced six witnesses, while the Defense produced three witnesses including the Defendant himself, Jonathan Williams.