PHOTO: The three convicts as they awaiting sentencing
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia- The assigned Judge at 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Kakata Margibi County, Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay has affirmed and confirmed the December 30, 2021 unanimous guilty verdict against three men for the killing of German national, Juergen Schedema, but defense Lawyers have taken exception..
The three men were found guilty for murdering the German national in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County in January 2020. The convicts are James Kollie, alias “Depree”, Emmanuel Kollie, alias “Porleh” and Joseph Cole, alias Joe Cole.
On January 22, 2020, the German national Schedema was shot during an armed robbery incident at the International Consultant Capital Logging Company compound in Big Joe Town near the port city of Buchanan.
The Slain German Juergen Schedema
According to Judge Gbeisay’s ruling today, Wednesday, January 22, 2022, state prosecutors proved their case beyond reasonable doubt by providing all necessary evidence that led to their conviction.
They were therefore adjudged guilty of the crimes of murder, armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.
Meanwhile, the probation office at the Ministry of Justice has been ordered to do a pre-sentence report on each of the convict and report to the court within five days.
The three men, who were accused of shooting the German national, Juergen Schedema, were on December 30, 2021, unanimously found guilty by trial jurors at the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Kakata, Margibi County.
But lawyers representing the accused took exception to jurors unanimous guilty verdict and promised to take advantage of the statute controlling.
The trial was presided over by its assigned Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay.
The trial lasted for two weeks three days.
Convicts are expected to be sentenced, pending pre-sentence report.
At the same time, a defense Lawyer for the three convicted murderers, Fred B. Johnson has announced an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia sitting in its March term of court.
Background
When the trial commenced on December 13, 2021,the defendants pleaded in one voice not guilty to the indictment thereby joining issue with the state.
Following the incident, police arrested, charged and sent the three suspects now defendants to court about their alleged involvement into the incident.
The defendants were indicted by the ground jury of Grand Bassa County during the February 2020 A.D term of court with the crimes of murder, armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.
During the trial proceedings, state prosecutor produced seven general witnesses and four rebuttal witnesses while the defense lawyers produced six witnesses and rested with the production of both oral and documentary evidence.
Also during the trial proceedings, defense lawyers filed a motion on December 22, 2021 for the judge Gbeisay to recuse himself from the case on ground that judge said in open court that outcome of the case will either encourage or discourage investors from investing in Liberia.
Further to that the defense lawyers accused the judge of hosting secret meeting with jurors in his office and the judge also requested for jurors numbers and addresses but said motion for recusal was denied by judge Gbeisay for lack of evidence.
Both state and defense lawyers were instructed by Judge Gbeisay to file their legal memorandum on or before Thursday December 30, 2021 for final argument and thereafter the jurors retired into their room of deliberation hand down a unanimous guilty verdict against the three defendants.
In an exclusive interview with Margibi County Attorney Dedeh Joma Wilson after the jurors’ verdict said, the unanimous guilty against the defendants will serve as deterrence for other armed robbers who are in the constant habits of causing insecurity for both citizens and international partners.
Cllr. Wilson said she expected the verdict in their favor due to the overwhelming evidence they presented during the trial.
As for the defense lawyer Atty. Peter G. King, he declined from being interviewed but instructed me to go interview the jurors who hand down verdict against his clients something that is impossible.
Throughout the trial, the state was represented by Assistant Minister for Litigation at the Ministry of Justice Wesseh A. Wesseh, Margibi County Attorney Dedeh Joma Wilson and deputy County Attorney, Masayan Matthew; while the defendants were continuously represented by Atty. Peter G. King and Atty. Afred Holmes.