Monrovia – Jonathan Williams, accused of killing Journalist Tyron Browne at his (Williams’) residence in the Duport Road Community few months ago, Monday, September 3, raised his right hand and pleaded not guilty to murder and hindering law enforcement charges.
Report by Kennedy L. Yangian, [email protected]
Two other defendants — charged alongside Williams — Alice and Edwina Youti also pleaded not guilty to the same charges.
Before Williams pleaded not guilty, his lawyer, Cllr. Jimmy Bombo made two separate submissions to the court. One of the submissions called for a change of venue of the trial from Montserrado to Gbarpolu County because of local prejudice his client has suffered from the media and that of the public since the incident on April 15, 2018.
“Your honor since the incident, there have been a series of reports by both the print and electronic media about this case which created sentiment against the defendant,” said Cllr. Bombo. He argued that the law provides that a defendant can pray for a change of venue because of fear.
The second submission made by Cllr. Bombo on behalf of his client was to have a bench trial where the Judge could serve as both a judge and jury while the lawyer representing the two other defendants Alice and Edwina Youti, Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi requested for a jury trial
Prosecution lawyer Cllr. Bobby Livingstone objected to the submission by Cllr. Bombo for a change of venue on ground that he did not present any evidence to show that there has been a local prejudice being meted against his client that will require a change of venue of the case.
“Your Honor, the submission made by the defense counsel should be denied because he failed to provide evidence to his claim and let him know that where so ever that this case is taken there will still be media coverage,” said Cllr. Livingstone.
Judge Roosevelt Willie of the Criminal Court “A” where the trial is taking place, ruled that the court cannot change the venue of the case because since the defendant started appearing for the trial there has been no attack on him that could warrant the change of venue, therefore, the case will be heard at the Criminal Court “A”.
On the request for a bench trial, Judge Willie also ruled and denied the submission that the defendant could not have a bench trial as murder was a capital offense and the law provides that offense of such must be held by jury, who are the judges of facts.
Following the denial of the defense’s two submissions, Judge Willie ruled the case to trial with the selection of jury, which began Tuesday, September 4, by 9:30 a.m.
According to the Grand Jury of Montserrado County sitting in its August 2018 Term of Court, Jonathan Williams and the two other defendants with wicked intention stabbed the late Tyron Browne to death on the night of April 15, 2018 at his home (Williams’ home) in the Duport Road Community. They further stated that Williams later removed his Browne’s body and dumped it on the roadside in the same Duport Road Community.
Tyron Browne, prior to his death, worked as a journalist for a local radio station — Super FM — owned by businessman George B. Kailondo.