Monrovia – The Monrovia City Court presided over by Stipendiary Magistrate L. Ben Barco, has commenced preliminary hearings on Wednesday, January 22, in the arson case involving the Capitol building, which Joint Chambers was set ablaze following a protest on December 17, 2024.
By Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
The prosecution’s first witness, Rafell A. Wilson, provided crucial testimony, linking defendant Thomas Etheridge to the alleged crime through phone conversations.
These revelations come as the investigation intensifies into the December 18, arson attack, which has rattled the nation and raised questions about the safety of key government institutions.
According to Wilson, evidence gathered from Etheridge’s phone indicated communication with co-defendant Eric Susay after the violent protest, during which a Police Support Unit officer, Amara Bility, was assaulted, and his weapon seized.
While Etheridge was not present during the initial assault, Wilson detailed a chilling conversation between him and Susay, who reported they had “taken care of” the policeman.
When Etheridge inquired about the officer’s location, Susay coldly replied that he was left lying in the street in Jallah Town.
Wilson’s testimony highlighted that all defendants, except for correctional officer John Nyanti, were employees of the Capitol building, raising concerns about internal complicity in the unrest.
He noted that the Liberia National Police had identified 65 individuals as persons of interest in connection to the riot and subsequent arson, but Etheridge was released into the custody of his lawyer, Cllr Jonathan Massaquoi, after initial investigations.
Despite Etheridge’s initial exoneration, Wilson stated that further investigation uncovered a possible link to the arson, prompting authorities to pursue his return for questioning.
“On December 18, 2024, defendant Etheridge’s criminal complicity was unknown. However, during the investigation, a link was established,” Wilson inferred.
The hearings are being closely watched as they unfold, with the Capitol building fire emblematic of broader tensions in the country.
Security personnel are reportedly attempting to involve high-ranking officials, including embattled Speaker Jonathan Koffa, who they alleged that a vehicle was reportedly seen at the scene adding a layer of complexity to the case.
Defense Lawyer, Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi, M. Wilkins Wright, and Cllr Elisha Forkeyoh are expected to challenge the prosecution’s claims vigorously, setting the stage for an aggressive legal battle over the accountability of those involved in the unrest that threatened the heart of Liberia’s government.
Going forward, the Monrovia City Court has the responsibility to unravel the events leading up to one of the most critical acts of violence in recent Liberian history, as the nation tussles with the implications of the December 17 protest and the subsequent arson that followed.
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