PHOTO: Defendant Oliver Dillon
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia-In the ongoing Oliver P. Dillon murder trial, a drama took place today (Monday, Jan. 4, 2021) at the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Kakata, Margibi County, when Montserrado County Attorney Edwin Kla Martin and Defense lawyer, Alfred Sayeh nearly got into a fist fight here in Margibi County over 73 kilometers east of Monrovia.
The row happened after Defense Lawyer Sayeh filed a submission to the court for the jurors to go on a field trip to the crime scene at Supermarket community on the Japan Freeway/Somalia Drive in the Gardnersville suburb of Monrovia.
Oliver Dillon, brother of Montserrado County Senator Darius Dillon, is an employee of the Transport Ministry and his trial has been going on for over a year, after Police arrested him for allegedly murdering a man, something he said was in self-defense as was allegedly subject of a criminal gang attack.
The submission of the Application totally left the court out of control, with Judge Joe S. Barkon finding both Prosecution and defense lawyer US$20 each.
Following the submission of the application for the jurors to visit the crime scene, state Prosecutors resisted the submission on ground that the defense has rested with evidence therefore need to open new wounds of case again.
State lawyers, headed by Liberia’s Solicitor General Cllr. Syrenius Cephas argued that if the judge should Grant said application meaning they themselves will also take the jurors to an unknown location, which means this will be endless; especially where the defense lawyer Alfred Sayea said he could take the responsibility to transport and feed the jurors.
Taking the responsibility of transporting and feeding the jurors, Prosecution says there is an ulterior motive of the defense lawyer.
Furthermore, Judge Barkon later allowed both parties to have five minutes argument into the submission by the defense lawyer, but the argument was loaded with insults coming from both parties.
Montserrado County Attorney Edwin Kla Martin was seen pointing his fingers at the defense lawyer in court, with both contending Lawyers appear to be in an angry mood.
Another thing that also angered the Montserrado County, Martin what he said was the action of an Aunty-In-law of defendant Oliver Dillon, Mrs Estella Pailey, who immediately after the judge fined both lawyers gave US$100 for lawyer Saryeh to pay the fine.
County Attorney Martin got enraged by the move, because he said that Mrs. Pailey is not part of the court and requested court to put the lady outside.
Meanwhile, presiding Judge Barkon denied the submission made by defense lawyer Alfred Sayeh on grounds that jurors, security and court sheriff’s lives could be at risk by would be gangsters, especially during the night hour where the Defense lawyer wants the jurors to visit the crime scene.
The murder case involving Defendant Oliver Dillion has lasted for nearly one year, with the resident judge Mardea Chenoweth been held for contempt of court by the Supreme Court of Liberia in September of last year for releasing the defendant on bail The 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Kakata Margibi County, headed by the then resident Judge Mardea Chenoweth.
Judge Chenoweth granted Defendant Oliver Dillion bail in his ongoing murder trial, until the state is ready to continue the case.
The bail was granted on Thursday March 19, 2020 for the Transport Ministry employee.
Defendant Oliver Dillon allegedly killed Emmanuel Freeman Supermarket on the Somalia Drive on April 20,2019 after he forgot his reading glasses, computer and cell phone in his vehicle, which was parked at the supermarket; when he confronted by three alleged criminals who have deadly weapons came rushing on him as he approached his vehicle.
The court said the criminal appearance Bond should be filed within 72 hours. Judge Chenoweth disclosed that on 17 March 2020, the state filed a ten counts motion to recuse that is, for the judge to rescue herself from the ongoing trial and said motion was assigned for Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
But on the same day, March 17, 2020, the court received an excuse from the Solicitor General Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephas and in that excuse, he requested for the motion of recusal to be heard on Thursday, March 19,2020.
The excuse reads: I respectfully request your honor to please grant me an excuse from the hearing of the motion to recuse filed by prosecution in the above title cause of action, which motion was assigned for hearing on Wednesday March 18, 2020. The excuse says: “Kindly allow me to appear instead on Thursday, the 19th day of March 2020 and said request was based on the fact that he Solicitor General Cephas has matter (Appeal/petition for writ of Certiorari) pending before the Supreme court and assigned for the same date and time (Wednesday March 18, 2020) when the motion to rescue is scheduled to be heard. Please see attached copy of reference citation from the Honorable Supreme court, Republic of Liberia, thank for your consideration and respectfully Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephas, solicitor general and chief prosecutor Ministry of Justice.” The 13th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Chenoweth in Thursday’s ruling said, ‘they have come to court and the Solicitor General was not in court, neither did he send in any excuse or send any other lawyer from the Ministry of Justice to represent the Ministry of Justice.