But The Defendant Has Taken Exception To The Magisterial Court’s Ruling
PHOTO: (L-R) Defendant Andrew Anderson and Mrs. Lorraine D. Anderson
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Andrew Anderson first denied committing the act after it first came to public knowledge, but now after facing trial in the Paynesville Magisterial Court, he has been found guilty of physically assaulting his wife.
Mr. Anderson, who is the Program Manager at the National Investment Commission (NIC), is facing 90 days of imprisonment after the court found him guilty of simple assault.
The ruling states: “The defendant Andrew Anderson is Ordered imprisoned at the Monrovia Central prison for not more than 90 days, beginning January 18, and ending April 18, 2023.”
Last year, the NIC official was issued a writ of arrest to answer allegations of domestic violence, disorderly conduct, and menacing and simple assault committed against his wife.
The writ was issued based on a complaint filed to the Paynesville Magisterial where Mrs. Lorraine D. Anderson, stated that her husband on numerous occasions allegedly insulted her and even threatened her life. Most especially, she claimed that Andrew Anderson has been in the constant habit of hitting on her, something that prompted her to leave her home since July last year, thus, leaving her three kids behind for the sake of peace and to stay alive.
However, on Wednesday January 18, 2023, the Judge of the Paynesville Magisterial court found the defendant guilty of the crime of simple assault and leaving out the other charges, due to text exchanges which showed that the victim was aware of the fight that led to the complaint she filed at the court.
And based on that, the court found him guilty of only simple assault.
The court has at the same time ordered that defendant Anderson restitute the amount for all the medical cost paid for by Lorraine D. Anderson, saying that the act by defendant Andrew Anderson is a crime which violates section 14.21 of the penal code law of Liberia that centers around simple assault which is a misdemeanor of the first degree; unless committed in an unarmed fight or scuffle entered into by mutual consent, in which case it is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
Meanwhile, the legal team representing defendant Andrew Anderson has taken exception to the Magisterial Court’s ruling and has taken an appeal to Criminal Court ‘A’, the Six Judicial Circuit Court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.