Criminal Court “C” Judge Orders Justice Ministry & Police To Produce Her Living Body And Her Son Says CDC Gov’t Has Crossed The Redline
PHOTO: Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- Former Chief Justice, Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott and three members of her household are in the custody of the Liberia National Police (LNP) today, Tuesday, June 2023, as it prepares to press former charges against them in connection with the gruesome death of her daughter, Charloe Musu.
The son of the former Chief Justice has taken the CDC government to task for detaining his mother and charging her with crimes in connecting with the killing of young Charloe, saying the government has crossed the redline.
Lawyers representing Cllr. Scott earlier told Judicial Reporters that the Police have charged the four individuals with Murder, Criminal Facilitation and false alarms, but Police Spokesman Moses Carter told the local OK FM radio Tuesday evening that the police was yet to issue a charge sheet.
A team of lawyers representing the former Chief Justice and three other family members late Tuesday filed a Writ of Habeas Corpus against the Ministry of Justice, Liberia National Police and those under the authority and control of the Police, demanding their living bodies by midday on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, in what some observers referred to as premature Habeas Corpus.
A Habeas Corpus writ requires a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person’s release, unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.
On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, Cllr. Scott was heavily escorted by her team of lawyers at the Liberia National Police where she and three of her family members were arrested and charged with Murder, Criminal conspiracy and false alarms.
Those charged along with Cllr. Scott are, Ma Rebecca Youdeh Wisner, Gertrude Newton and Alice Johnson.
Back in March, the Police invited former Chief Justice Scott who was assisting the LNP in ongoing investigation into recent attack on her home that left her daughter killed in the Brewerville suburb of Monrovia, which led to the alleged killing of Charloe, who was about to graduate from the Starz College in Sinkor.
The ex-Chief Justice appearance was the third time she has shown up at the Police headquarters for questioning.
Provisional autopsy report in late March 2023 revealed that the Late Charloe Musu’s death is suggested to exsanguination, massive left hemothorax and left lung collapse.
Exsanguination means to use a sharp object to pierce a person in many times in a violent manner. Provisional Autopsy Report On Ex-Chief Justice’s Daughter: She Died From Profuse Bleeding – News Public Trust
Petition by Cllr. Scott’s Lawyers
According to the petition for a writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Cllr. Scott team of lawyers, says that on February 22,2023, during the early night hours, petitioners home situated in Virginia was intruded by unknown persons who attacked petitioners and members of the household resulting to the death of Charloe Musu.
That following the incident, co-petitioners, Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott reported the matter to the police on duty at Brewerville; but before this incident, two separate attacks were made at the petitioners’ home which were also reported to the police.
That the following above mentioned incidents, the police commenced an investigation with petitioners since February 23, 2023, and petitioners have since been cooperating with police investigation. And that during this investigation, the petitioners that reported the case were under pressure and treated as if they were the culprits.
That on today, Tuesday June 20,2023, petitioners were by way of telephone called to appear and upon appearance, the petitioners were arrested and detained in the presence of their counsels without formal charge.
That this conduct on the part of the defendants is sufficient to trigger writ of Hebeas Corpus thereby praying this court to produce the living bodies of Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, Ma Rebecca Youdeh Wisner, Gertrude Newton and Alice Johnson who have been held by the Liberia National Police without charge.
Petitioners submit that the forty-eight hours provided by 1986 constitution of Liberia Article 21(f)
Every person arrested or detained shall be formally charged and presented before a court of competent jurisdiction within forty-eight hours. Should the court determine the existence of a prima facie case against the accused, it shall issue a formal writ of arrest setting out the charge or charges and shall provide for a speedy trial. There shall be no preventive detention.
The right to the writ of habeas corpus, being essential to the protection of human rights, shall be guaranteed at all times, and any person arrested or detained and not presented to court within the period speci ed may in consequence exercise this right.
Under the circumstances, writ of Habeas Corpus shall lie as a matter of law as per the dictates of the statute and the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia. Article 21(g) which states:
The right to the writ of habeas corpus, being essential to the protection of human rights, shall be guaranteed at all times, and any person arrested or detained and not presented to court within the period speci ed may in consequence exercise this right
The lawyers also relied on Chapter 16.51 title 1, Civil procedure law.
Meanwhile, Criminal Court “C” Judge Blamo Dixon has ordered the Ministry of Justice and the Liberian National Police to produce the living bodies of Cllr. Scott and all those charged alone with her at the Criminal Court “C” on Wednesday June 21,2023.
However, the son of the former Chief Justice Nyowo Scott described the arrest of his mother as politically motivated and witchcraft hunt.
He said the allegedly murdered and perpetrators are masquerading the corridors while his mom is been humiliated in police custody.
He wants the Liberian government to ensure in finding the Murderer of the Late Charloe Musu as his mother is innocent of the alleged charges lavished against her.