Zwedru, Grand Gedeh Co. – The 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh presided by Judge George S. Wiles today June 6, 2022, sentenced defendant Moses Mlarmah who murdered motorcyclist Modacious Nyema in Besseken Pleebo statutory Maryland County on March 25 ,2021 to 47 year’s imprisonment.
Report by Garmah Lomo, Contributing Writer
Convict Mlarmah was indicted during the February A.D 2021 term of court on April 16, 2021 at the 4th Judicial Circuit Court in Maryland County for the crime of murder and criminal conspiracy.
Wherefore and in view of the foregoing, unanimous guilty against convict Mlarmah and circumstances thereof, the unanimous guilty of the jurors is hereby affirmed, confirmed the jurors verdict against convict Mlarmah is adjudged for the crime of murder.
Judge Wiles said, according to their statute, the maximum sentence for a murderer is life imprisonment while the minimum sentence is left with the judge discretion.
According to Judge Wiles, after convict Mlarmah shall have serve 30 years imprisonment in prison, he shall be allowed to placed on parole based on good behavior from the prison facility.
Judge Wiles added that the 47 year’s imprisonment given to the convict will serve as a deterrence for others who are involved with unlawfully and criminally taking human lives.
To which ruling, prosecution excepted and promised to take advantage of the statute controlling.
On June 1,2022, trial jurors handed a unanimous guilty verdict against defendant Moses Mlarmah despite his earlier guilty plea and his plea for mercy.
The Ministry of Justice through it Correction superintendent at Zwedru correction palace was invited by judge George S. Wiles to ascertain the defendant character.
Furthermore, the court has scheduled the sentencing of the defendant to June 6,2022.
On the other hand, state prosecutors are commence the trial of Co-defendant Jeremiah Appleton alias open zipper, Leo K. Williams and Alice Davis who pleaded not guilty after their indictment was read on Monday May 30,2022 on June 3,2022.
During the trial proceedings, state prosecutors produced three witnesses and rested in Toto with the production of both oral and documentary evidence.
At the commencement of the ongoing trial of motorcyclist Mordacious Nyema who was gruesomely murdered for alleged human parts in Pleebo, Maryland County late March to early April 2021, the prime suspect Moses Mlarmah pleaded guilty at the 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Gedeh County to the crimes of murder and criminal conspiracy after being arraigned in open court.
Despite his guilty plea, state prosecutors said, they will put aside and go into the case to produce evidence against him
The trial commenced on May 30,2022, at the 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County.
While co-defendant Jeremiah Appleton alias open zipper, Leo K. Williams and Alice Davis pleaded not guilty thereby joining issue with the state.
On the other hand, defendant Francis Kla Nyema was released through a nulle prosequio in line with chapter 18 section 18.1 of the Criminal procedure law of Liberia on ground that he has no connection to the case.
The case transferred from Maryland County to Grand Gedeh county based on a change of venue request made by state prosecutors.
After the prime suspect Moses Mlarmah pleaded guilty, he was asked by Judge George S. Wiles of the 7th Judicial Circuit Court as to whether he was force to say so but he answered in loud voice and said no but rather he did the killing.
Based upon his guilty pleas, state prosecutors headed by Cllr. Wesseh A. Wesseh requested the court for a separate trial in favor of defendant Moses Mlarmah who pleaded guilty and also in favor of Leo K. Williams, Alice Davis, and Jeremiah Appleton alias open zipper who said they were not guilty.
The request for a separate trial is consistent with Chapter 16 section 16.10 of the criminal procedure law of Liberia in order not to prejudice the defendants who have issues with the state.
While defense lawyer Rodney O. Moses interposed no objection to the request for a separate trial adding that pre-Judicial is the right of a defendant who after arraigns and entering plead separately, is entitled to severance and separate trials so as to meet the end of Justice.
