On Wednesday, January 26, the case involving Journalist Bettie Johnson-Mbayo and Doctor Moses Mbayo was climaxed due to three missing pieces of evidence.
The three pieces of evidence are statements of Youngor Barco Cole (wife), Ishmael Mulbah, (son) and James Blamo (Security) that were written on the night of the incident at Zone 5- police station in Paynesville.
Journalist Mbayo, Dr. Mbayo along with the principal of St. Simon Baptist School Johnson Kerkula were ordered beaten by Bong County representative Marvin Cole.
The three were beaten after Representative Cole questioned the parking of the journalist and spouse vehicle beside his fence.
According to him, outside of his fence was not meant to be a parking lot for anyone.
In the case last week, the three statements were ordered to be replaced by Magistrate Marvin Bah after lawyers representing the couple filed a motion for discovery.
Atty Michael Gebeh said the three statements were written in the presence of the police officers and wondered why the statements will be omitted from the case file.
When we contacted the Zone 5 police station officers said the statements were included in the case file and were forwarded to the city solicitor of the Ministry of Justice assigned at the Paynesville Magisterial Court.
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“If there is evidence missing, the city solicitor must be able to give account of the missing evidence and we as Police Officers can’t account for it,” one of the officers said.
The wife of Representative Marvin Cole, Youngor was reportedly seen on the day of the incident instructing thugs to beat the couple for parking near her fence.
For Ishmael, he is said to be the ringleader of the thugs while Blamo is accused of deflating the tire of the couple.
It is unknown if these statements will be admitted by Magistrate Bah on Monday, January 31 as legal pundits questioned the custodian of the evidence. “Custody of evidence is very critical and for the magistrate to admit those evidence, will raise a brow on if those statements are exactly what was written the day of the incident or there was a change, so I think the magistrate should not admit them,” said Atty. George Flahnboy. https://thenewdawnliberia.com/liberia-journalist-spouse-face-charges/
