By Precious D. Freeman
The Monrovia City Court, presided over by Stipendiary Magistrate L. Ben Barco, has ruled in favor of the prosecution in the Capitol Building arson case involving Thomas Etheridge and Eric Sasay.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Magistrate Barco stated that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, meaning that the evidence presented was sufficient for the defendants to be held accountable and required to answer to the charges in a higher court.
The prosecution’s first witness testified that Etheridge and Sasay criminally conspired to purchase gasoline, which they allegedly used to set the Capitol Building on fire, resulting in property damage estimated at over US$8 million.
Additionally, the prosecution alleged that the defendants and their co-conspirators attacked a police officer, leaving him unconscious and stealing his firearm.
During the preliminary examination, the prosecution was tasked with proving a prima facie case against the defendants.
Three prosecution witnesses provided corroborative testimonies, describing how the defendants and their accomplices gained access to the Capitol Building with the intent to disrupt legislative sessions in the Joint Chambers.
“In their attempt to establish the existence of prima facie evidence, the prosecution presented evidence collated from the crime scenes and electronic gadgets,” Magistrate Barco stated in his ruling. “Unless these species of evidence are properly rebutted, they stand tall as factual.”
Following the ruling, Magistrate Barco ordered the court’s clerk to transmit the case records, along with the defendants, to the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Court “A” for further proceedings.
With this development, Etheridge and Sasay will now face a full trial, where the prosecution must prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case continues to draw public attention, given the seriousness of the allegations and the implications for national security and legislative stability.
It can be recalled that the Liberia National Police forwarded Suspects Thomas Isaac Etheridge and Eric Susay to the Monrovia City Court for prosecution following multiple charges linking them to the Capitol Building fire incident.
Thirty-nine-year-old (39) Etheridge who works in the office of embattled Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa was charged with the crimes of Arson, Release of Destructive Forces, Reckless Burning & Exploding, Criminal Mischief, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Facilitation, Criminal Conspiracy, & Criminal Solicitation.
His alleged accomplice, Sasay, was also charged with Arson, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Solicitation, Criminal Intent to Commit Murder, Aggravated Assaults, Illegal Possession of a Fired Arm, Release of destructive force, Recklessly Endangering Another Person & Theft of Property.
According to a writ of arrest issued by the court, the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice complained that the defendant did commit the above entitled crimes.
“You are hereby commanded to ARREST the living body (ies) of Thomas Isaac Etheridge, Eric Sasay, and others, to be identified defendant(s) and forthwith bring them before the Monrovia City Court, Temple of Justice, Montserrado County to answer the Charges of Arson, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Solicitation, Criminal Intent to Commit Murder, Aggravated Assault, illegal Possession” the writ noted.
The writ says the prosecution alleges that on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at about 0500hrs, the Joint Chambers of the Capitol Building was gutted by fire, which act of the incident were orchestrated and with aforethought carried on by Defendants Thomas Etheridge, Amos Kofa, Eric Sasay.
The Ministry of Justice further indicates that this was done through telephone conversations and actions, thereby causing total damage of US$1.8 million.
Wherein defendants criminally connived and conspired purchased in the process gasoline on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, during the evening hours to be used in an arson attack in the aftermath of a protest and riot at the Capitol Building, there and then engaged into a conduct leading to the brutality of a police officer that led him unconscious, whereas his arm was confiscated by defendants and were used for their personal use”, the police charge sheet notes.
The charge sheet describes the alleged act of the defendants as being unlawful, wicked, illegal, and intentional, in violation of Sections 15.5, 14.20, 10.3, 10.4, 10.1, 15.1 of the New Penal Law of Liberia; there and then, the crimes herein defendant did do and commit.
