Capital Hill, Monrovia – Lawyers representing the legal interest of Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott and three other defendants have filed a motion for bail before the Judge of Criminal Court A Roosevelt Willie. Justice Scott’s legal team motion comes barely days after the state drew a three counts indictment against their clients.
Cllr. Scott and three other people have been charged by the State with murder, criminal conspiracy, and making a false statement to law enforcement. The defense team for Justice Scott contends that in accordance with Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law, its clients are qualified for bail based on the indictment’s content and narrative.
They further maintained that because the state had failed or refused to say specifically who had committed the murder, that was enough to satisfy the requirements of Chapter 13. 1 of the Criminal Code.
Chapter 13.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law which is quoted in part states that a person in custody for the commission of a capital offense shall, before conviction, be entitled as of right to be admitted to bail unless the proof is evident or the presumption great that he or she is guilty of the offense.
The attorneys insisted that the provision of Chapter 13.1 above provides a valid legal basis for the defendant’s release until the trial’s verdict.
“Where it is uncertain whether the accused is innocent or guilty-in other words where, upon an examination of the testimony, the presumption of guilt is not strong, the court will exercise its discretionary powers and admit to bail, and it is particularly called upon to bail in all cases where the presumptions are decidedly in favor of the innocence of the accused.”
The defense attorneys also claimed that Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, a former senator from Maryland County and the Republic of Liberia’s Attorney General was eligible for personal recognizance under the aforementioned provision of the Criminal Code because she did not pose a threat to the Republic at night, and she and the other defendants will appear in court as needed beginning with the trial.
Reported by: G. Watson Richards
Contact: +231880381808
