PHOTO: Defendant Moses Mlarmah just found guilty
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
ZWEDRU, Liberia- Jurors at the 7th Judicial Circuit Court here in the southeastern Grand Gedeh County on Wednesday handed down a unanimous guilty verdict against defendant Moses Mlarmah for the murder of commercial motorcyclist and student Mordacious Nyema in Maryland County over one year ago.
The guilty verdict was announced on June 1, 2022, despite defendant Nyema’s earlier guilty plea and his plea for mercy.
Motorcyclist Mordacious Nyema was gruesomely murdered with parts extracted for alleged ritualistic purpose in Pleebo, Maryland County around April 2021, something that triggered mob violence in both Pleebo and Harper and eventually leading to an imposition of temporary emergency measures in the affected areas by President George Manneh Weah.
The Ministry of Justice, through it Correction superintendent at the Zwedru Correction Palace, was invited by Judge George S. Wiles to ascertain the defendant’s character.
Furthermore, the court has scheduled the sentencing of the defendant to June 6,2022.
On the other hand, state prosecutors are expected to commence the trial of Co-defendant Jeremiah Appleton, alias “open zipper,”, Leo K. Williams and Alice Davis, who pleaded not guilty after their indictment was read on Monday, May 30,2022.
During the trial proceedings, state prosecutors produced three witnesses and rested in Toto with the production of both oral and documentary evidence.
At the start of the ongoing trial, prime suspect Moses Mlarmah pleaded guilty in the 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Gedeh County to the crimes of murder and criminal conspiracy after being arraigned in open court.
Despite his guilty plea, state prosecutors said that they would put that aside and go into the case to produce evidence against him
The trial commenced on May 30,2022 here in Zwedru City.
Co-defendant Jeremiah Appleton, alias “open zipper”, Leo K. Williams and Alice Davis pleaded not guilty thereby joining issue with the state.
On the other hand, defendant Francis Kla Nyema was released through a nulle prosequio in line with chapter 18 section 18.1 of the Criminal procedure law of Liberia on ground that he has no connection to the case.
The case was transferred from Maryland County to Grand Gedeh county based on change of venue request made by state prosecutors.
Background
After the prime suspect Moses Mlarmah pleaded guilty, he was asked by Judge George S. Wiles of the 7th Judicial Circuit Court as to whether he was force to say so but he answered in loud voice and said no but rather he did the killing.
Based upon his guilty pleas, state prosecutors headed by Cllr. Wesseh A. Wesseh requested court for separate trial in favor of defendant Moses Mlarmah who pleaded guilty and also in favor of Leo K. Williams, Alice Davis and Jeremiah Appleton alias open zipper who said they were not guilty.
The request for separate trial is consistent with Chapter 16 section 16.10 of the criminal procedure law of Liberia, in order not to prejudice the defendants who have issues with the state.
While defense lawyer Rodney O. Moses interposed no objection to the request for separate trial adding that pre-Judicial being the right of defendant who after arraign and enter plead separately, are entitled to severance and separate trials so as to meet the end of Justice.
The court presided over by its resident Judge George Wiles granted the request for severance trial and said severance or separate trial being the right of either party with the defense interposing no objection.
On May 31,2022, defendant Moses Mlarmah waved testimony and his legal counsel Rodney O. Moses also waved legal final argument into the case.
At the same time, state prosecutor led by the Assistant Justice Minister for Litigation, Cllr. Wesseh A. Wesseh who had no alternative after defense lawyer, waved final legal argument. He also followed same to wave legal final argument.