FLASHBACK: Convict Jonathan Williams during the trial
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
The lead Lawyer for Jonathan Williams, who is serving his jail sentencing after being convicted of killing young Liberian Journalist Tyron Brown, says his client is going blind behind bars, but the Tubmanburg Prison Superintendent has disputed the claim.
Mr. Williams was convicted for killing Journalist Brown in the Duport Road Community in Monrovia’s Paynesville suburb in March of 2020, but his lawyers took exception and filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia.
Journalist Browne of Super FM/TV in Monrovia was stabbed to death several times in the Duport Road, Paynesville suburb of Monrovia in 2018. And the trial first started at the Temple of Justice in the Liberian capital.
The case was however transferred to Bomi County based on change of venue motion filed by lawyers representing Jonathan Williams, Cllr. Jallah Barbu and Cllr. Jimmy Bombo, which is a right of any party
The convict’s Lawyer, Cllr. Jallah Barbu confirmed that his client convict is partially going blind.
Late Journalist Tyron Brown
Cllr. Barbu told Journalists at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia on Thursday, July 29, 2021, that they have contacted two medical institutions for his medical test and based upon the medical test, a medical procedure will be determined by medical practitioner.
He disclosed that early next week, his client will be brought to Monrovia to attend medical test or examination with the consent of the Ministry of Justice.
But in a telephone interview, the prison Superintendent of Tubmanburg in Bomi County, Jerome Doe confirmed that convict Williams has been complaining of his eye sight, but he was not going blind.
He said Mr. Williams usually goes outside his prison cell and is outdoor on the compound and goes to bed in the evening hours.
Mr. Doe said for the convict to say that he going blind is an exaggeration, but confirmed that convict Williams has been talking about doing an eye test, which they are currently making arrangement for him to come to Monrovia for medical examination on his eyes.
Convict Williams’ lead lawyer, Cllr. Barbu told www.newspublictrust.com that they have exhausted all efforts to have the appeal case placed on the Supreme Court’s docket during the 2021, March A.D. term of court but to no avail.
He said the legal team is also hoping to have it heard during the Supreme Court October term of Court.
Jonathan Williams’ lead Lawyer explained that despite their client’s conviction, he was convicted but he has lawyer has never turned his back on him. From time to time, he said one of his lawyers visits the convict and carries some provisions for him to the prison facility.
Cllr. Barbu claimed that sometimes during their visit to the prison facility, they are denied entry by prison authority due to what they call some security reasons.
Narrating further, Cllr. Barbu said his client is undergoing serious psychological problem and trauma more especially Missing his family he left behind.
The convicted killer of young Liberian Journalist, Tyron Browne, Mr. Jonathan Williams was on Thursday, March 26, 2020 been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in the Bomi County capital, Tubmanbur, nearly 71 kilometers west of Monrovia.
Judge Nancy Sammy announced the sentence several days after she handed down a guilty verdict for Williams, after ruling that the prosecution had provided convincing evidence to prove the crime of murder.
The Supreme Court therefore ruled granting the change of venue instead of Gbarpolu County as requested by the defense lawyers, it was transferred to Bomi County due to bad road and logistical constraints.