Capital Hill, Monrovia – The Grand Jury of Montserrado County has come up with an indictment against former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott and three other family members following the death of the late Charloe Musu.
On July 22, 2023, lawyers representing the legal interest of former chief Justice Scott filed a motion to bail or dismiss all charges against the defendants before the Magistrate of Monrovia City Court Ben Barco.
They argued that there was no indictment leveled against Justice Scott and three other family members by the Grand Jury of Montserrado County.
The defendant’s legal team relied on Article 21(h) of the 1986 Constitution and Chapter 13.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia.
But Magistrate Barco of the Monrovia City Court denied the motion filed by the defense lawyers citing legal basic. According to him, Chapter 7, Subsection 7.3 of the new judiciary law states that Magistrate Courts in criminal proceedings only extend to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degrees misdemeanors and not felonious offenses.
Magistrate Barco, however, said he has no trial jurisdiction over the crime of murder with which the defendants are charged.
Reported by: G. Watson Richards
Contact: +231880381808
