PHOTO: Defendant “Open zipper”, alias Jeremiah Appleton
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
ZWEDRU, Liberia-Jurors sitting at trial of facts in the 7th Judicial Circuit Court here in Gedeh County are expected to decide the fate of Jeremiah Appleton, alias “Open Zipper,” Leo K. Williams and Alice Davis this Monday, June 13,2022, as the murder trial of Maryland commercial motorcyclist and student, Modacious Nyema winds down.
Defendant “Open Zipper” was one of those accused of being sent to get human parts along with another man, Leo K. Williams.
Days after being found guilty of murdering a Maryland County commercial motorcyclist, Modacious Nyema last week, the Judge of the 7th Judicial Circuit Court on June 6, 2022 sentenced his killer to 47 years imprisonment.
The late Nyema was gruesomely murdered with parts extracted for alleged ritualistic purpose in Pleebo Sodaken District by April 2021, something that triggered mob violence in both Pleebo and Harper. And that eventually led to an imposition of temporary emergency measures in the affected areas by President George Manneh Weah. During the wave of protests, the home of House Speaker Bohfal Chambers was burnt as well as the destruction of properties, including the Harper Central Prison.
The court is also expected to hear final argument from both state and defense lawyers, before the jurors can hand down their verdict.
When the trial started, “Open zipper” and others on May 30,2022 pleaded not guilty to their indictment, thereby joining issue with the state; while the main defendant, Moses Mlarmah pleaded guilty.
That prompted state prosecutors to request for separate trial and the request was granted by his Honor Judge George S. Wiles of the 7th Judicial Circuit Court.
Background
During their trial proceedings, state prosecutors produced two witnesses and rested with evidence while the defendants took the witness stand and testified on their own behalf.
Prior to the defendants taking the witness stand, the public defender Rodney O. Moses filed a motion of acquittal on ground that the defendants have no connection with the murdering of motorcyclist Modacious Nyema but said motion was vehemently resisted by state prosecutors because the main defendant Moses Mlarmah wasn’t in alcohol neither he was tortured when he called their names.
However, the Judge ruled and denied the public defender motion for acquittal on ground that the trial is a jury trial and let it be left with the jury to decide.
Meanwhile, Judge Wiles last Friday June 10,2022, instructed both state and defense lawyers to present their legal memorandum on or before 9am on Monday, June 13,2022 and final argument is to be heard at 11am the same day.
The state as per record has been represented by Assistant Justice Minister for Litigation, Cllr. Wesseh A. Wesseh and County Attorney E. Wilkins Nah, while the defendants have been represented by the office of the Public Defense headed by lawyer Rodney O. Moses.