PHOTO: Convict Retina Capehart (Left) being escorted by Correction Officer
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- In line with the New trafficking act of Liberia, Criminal Court “A” presided over by resident Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has sentenced a 31-years-old woman, Retina Capehart to 20 years imprisonment for human trafficking.
She has also been fined US$5,000 or its equivalent in Liberia.
The sentence was handed down on Tuesday, April 16, 2022.
Convict Retina Capehart, who was responsible for the recently trafficking ten Liberian women to the Middle East nation of Oman in 2020, was
unanimously found guilty of human trafficking by trial jurors at the Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
According to the report by the probation office at the Ministry of Justice, the convict character or reputation showed that she has no prior criminal record.
Prior to Retina Capehart’s sentencing, an argument was heard into a motion for new trial which was filed on Monday April 25,2022 on ground that the jury verdict against the convict was materially contrary to the weight of evidence adduced during the trial.
The motion was argued pro and con by both lawyers but it was denied on ground that a motion for new trial can only be granted when a new evidence is discovered, misconduct on the part of jurors or judge and if the verdict is contrary to the weight of the evidence.
The court therefore denied the motion for new trial on ground it didn’t meet the elements to grants a new trial but the defense lawyers took exception.
After the ruling into the motion, the judge immediately proceeded with the sentencing of the convict and ordered the clerk to write the superintendent of the Monrovia Central prison to give effect to this final judgement.
The unanimous guilty verdict was handed down on Madam Capehart on Tuesday April 19, 2022.
But the defense lawyers have taken exception to the jurors’ verdict.
Following her conviction at Criminal Court A, Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie ordered the clerk of court to write a communication to the probation office at the Ministry of Justice to do a background investigation regarding the convict reputation and character including prior criminal records in order for the judge to make an informed decision.
The report should be presented to court on or before Friday, April 22,2022, at 10am.
The investigation of the convict Capehart character or reputation includes her school she attended, community, the Liberia national police and other securities apparatus regarding any activities she has been involved with.
Meanwhile, sentence hearing and sentencing into the case is scheduled for next Monday, April 25,2022 at 10am.
During the trial proceedings, state prosecutors paraded six witnesses while the defense produced three witnesses.
Thirty-one-year Retina Capehart on Tuesday, March 22,2022 pleaded not to the Crime trafficking in person thereby joining issue with the state at Criminal Court A presided by it resident Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie.
After her not guilty plead, state prosecutor headed by Assistant justice Wesseh A. Wesseh began with the production of its first witness.
The trial was a jury trial where at the end, the jurors decided her fate.
The convict was represented by Cllr. Leveli Supuwood and other defense lawyers while, the Ministry of Justice was being represented by Wesseh A. Wesseh and other prosecuting attorneys of the Ministry of Justice.