Cllr. Scott  Motion Bill Suspended 

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Monrovia City Court Judge, Judge Ben Barco  denied the Lawyers representing former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott and three others the motion to admit to the bill at  Court over the weekend. 

Cllr.  Scott and the three others were arrested on Thursday June 22, 2023  by the Monrovia City Court after a complaint was filed by the Ministry of Justice on Charges of Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, and False reports to Law Enforcement Officers. 

Following their arrest,  the  former Chief Justice,  Scott with  three other family members spent their first night at the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach) after their Lawyer’s motion to admit to the bill was suspended for Friday’s hearing at the Monrovia  City Court.

During their  Friday hearing, the  Defense Counsel argued that criminal charges are made against defendants, and where it is shown that proof is evident and presumption not great, the defendants are entitled to bill citing chapter 13,sub-section 13.1 paragraph 1 and 2 of the criminal procedure law of Liberia.

The Defense Counsel further said that the law in the jurisdiction may allow for personal recognition, most especially for officials who are known not to be flight risk in the instant case of former Chief Justice, Gloria Musu Scott.

 Responding to the Defense Motion, Prosecuting Counsel cited Article 21 paragraph D (i) of the constitution stating that all accused persons shall be billable upon their personal recognizance or by sufficient sureties depending upon the gravity of the charge unless charged for capital offenses like murder citing section 14.1 of the new penal law of Liberia which grades murder as a first-degree felony. 

The prosecution further argued that murder is a first-degree felony and classified as a capital offense consistent with Chapter 7 Section 7.3 of the New Judiciary law as amended.

Following  the legal argument between both legal teams, Stipendiary Magistrate Judge,  Ben Barco of the Monrovia City Court inclined to rule denying the application of the Defense counsel citing that the court lacked jurisdiction over the crime of murder and order the clerk of the court to immediately transferred to the Judicial Circuit Criminal Assizes “A.         

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