By Grace Q. Bryant
Nine out of the 12-member trial jury at Criminal Court ‘A’ has brought down an unanimous guilty verdict against John Tubman’s killer, Christian Anderson for the crime of murder.
The jurors in their communication yesterday said ,”We the trial jurors whom the case between the Republic of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice plaintiffs verses Christian Byron Anderson defendant crime Murder was given to bring a verdict having carefully considered the evidence adduced at the trial, we hereby unanimously agreed that the defendant is guilty of the crime of murder dated June 29, 2022 and respectfully submitted.”
According to Judge Roosevelt Willie, Murder being a first degree felony, which penalty is either death by hanging or life imprisonment, the guilty plea of the defendant is set aside and the state through the Ministry of Justice is ordered to prove beyond all reasonable doubts the guilt of the defendant.
Judge Willie also ordered the clerk to send an communication to the Ministry of Justice for an investigative report on defendant Anderson.
According to Judge Willie, the sentence hearing will be conducted on next Tuesday at 9:30 A.M.
John Tubman, 76, the former President Tubman’s son, was found lying unconscious in a pool of blood at his Lakpasee residence in the FiamaH Community IN Sinkor, Monrovia on September 22, 2021.
Those arrested as alleged killers were Alloysious Garplah and Anderson who admitted to the commission of the crime, added ding that he did so on personal grounds and subsequently pleaded guilty to the indictment.
Suspect Anderson was arrested in Rivercess County after police received a tip-off from some community residents.
According to Police Inspector General, Patrick Sudue, the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice recently announced a bounty fee of US$ 5,000 as rewards for anyone who will provide information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
He added that the LNP investigators swiftly conducted examination on the bodies of the deceased victims and established that they were murdered.
It can be recalled that the judge said that the application made by one of counsels for the state entering nolly pose quoi for two of the defendants in the proceedings is in line with the law as enshrined in the criminal procedure Law Section 18.1.
His decision came when the prosecution lawyer prayed the court to enter a plea of nolly pose quoi in favor of Emmanuel Forkey who will testify in the proceedings on behalf of the state, while Aloysius Garbleh who is a juvenile and according to them have been informed that he did not participate in the crimes at bar.
The judge maintained that since in fact the defense counsel has interposed no objection, the court said it is hereby granted the two defendants their freedom and the case was hereby dismissed with prejudice against them.
