By Grace Q. Bryant
The Paynesville Magisterial Court has sentenced the Program Manager at the National Investment Commission (NIC) to 90 days imprisonment after finding him guilty for simple assault on his, wife Lorraine D. Anderson.
The ruling stated, “The defendant Andrew Anderson is ordered imprisoned at the Monrovia Central Prison for not more than 90 days, beginning January 18, and ending April 18, 2023.”
It can be recalled that the Program Manager at the National Investment Commission (NIC) Andrew Anderson was issued a Writ of Arrest to answer to allegations of domestic violence, disorderly conduct, and menacing and simple assault committed against his wife.
The writ was issued based on a complaint filed to the Paynesville Magisterial Court where Mrs. Anderson stated that her husband on numerous occasions insulted, threatened her life and overall, has been in the constant habit of hitting on her, for which she had to leave her home since last year July; thus, leaving her three kids behind for the sake of peace and to stay alive.
However, on Wednesday January 18, 2023 the Judge of the Paynesville Magisterial Court found the defendant guilty of the crime of simple assault and leaving out the other charges due to text exchanges which showed that the victim was aware of the fight that led to the complaint she filed at the court. And based on that, the court found him guilty of only simple assault.
The court at the same time ordered that defendant Anderson restitute all the medical cost paid for by the defendant since Defendant Anderson’s crime violates section 14.21 of the Penal Code Law of Liberia that centers on simple assault which is a misdemeanor of the first degree, unless committed in an unarmed fight or scuffle entered into by mutual consent, in which case it is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
Meanwhile, the legal team representing the defendant excepted and has taken an appeal to Criminal Court ‘A’ at the Temple of Justice.
