Court releases 8 murder suspects

The 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Kru County, southeast Liberia has released eight murder suspects due to lack of evidence to prosecute them. The suspects include Stephen Dortu, Vuekm Nimely, Elijah Nimely and Habattus Sawee. Others are: Richard Nagbe, Mombo Tugbeh, Isaac Sieka, and David Boy.

Judge Zuballah Keizeku took the decision on Tuesday, 20 June following a motion for Nolle Prosiquoi filed by prosecution, Attorney David T.K. Dweh, who is also County Attorney for Grand Kru, and Aldophus Brown, Legal Counsel for the Ministry of Justice.

The two lawyers argued that since the eight suspects were arrested in January 2016 and detained for their alleged involvement in the death of a Nigerian national identified as Prince Okongo, along with his fiancé’ Miss Wallace Wilson in Jloh Statutory District, Grand Kru County.

They finally decided to enter into a plead of nolleprosequoi with the court, adding that keeping these suspects in detention perpetually violates their rights. The lawyers noted that they have been making frantic effort to gather pieces of evidence to prosecute the suspects, but to no avail. They maintain that the only option left is to set them free as there is no evidence to proceed with trial. Editing by Jonathan Browne