Jonathan Williams, Lawyers Appear In Court Today

-Over ‘Death’ of Journalist Tyrone Browne

By R. Joyclyn Wea

Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has set today Friday, August 31, 2018 for hearing into the gruesome murder of the late Liberian Journalist and employee of Super FM/TV, Tyron Brown.

This follows defendant’s counsellor (Cllr. Jallah Barbu) plead with Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Willie to give a day or two to study the case filed as he is new to the matter which the court granted.

It can be recalled, during the last sitting of this case, Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie was constrained to reschedule these proceedings as a result of continuance prayed for by the defendant Mr. Jonathan Williams for the purpose of securing a lawyer to represent his interest.

Defendant Williams was giving two weeks and the case was scheduled for Wednesday, August 29, 2018 in which both parties were present in court along with Mr. Jonathan Williams, the court inquire from Mr. Williams regarding his legal representations.

In response to the court’s inquiry, defendant Williams bewailed “your honor my family has contacted Cllr. Jallah Barbu. We have met couple of days but things have not been finalized. I pray the court to contact him.”

In view of the answer provided by defendant Williams that the court should contact Cllr. Barbu, whom he says would represent his interest in these proceedings, the court mandated its sheriff to immediately contact Cllr. Barbu so as to ascertain from him the discussion regarding his service to defendant Jonathan Williams.

Subsequently, appearing in court on Wednesday this week, Cllr. Jallah Barbu begged the court to grant him reasonable period to review the matter and thereafter proceed to court at which time to determine what plead to make.

Cllr. Barbu explained that a determination of the penalty and remedy are only possible when the law is invoked noting that in the case before the honorable court someone life was taken, and it is really sad and the family is also aggrieved as well as every institution to which the victim belong particularly the press which is critical in making any consideration to represent a defendant saying “at the same time the defendant has life that must be protected under the law.”

Matching the two; Cllr. Barbu explained that there is salient issue that must be resolved and that is the disclosure of the matter so that relatives, friends, and colleagues of the fallen journalist have some sort of satisfaction in order for the society to remain stable.

“In the absence of that, we will have a matter that will remain on the book forever without anyone to represent the defendant. In this case the defendant has asked us to represent him. On oath taking to practice law, I believe that our representation if granted to the defendant will be the pursuit of a just case relative to bring a closure to this matter,” he added.

Resisting the application made by defendant counsel, the Republic of Liberia acknowledges the preciousness of life that it has undertaken to prosecute the defendant in the dock in keeping with the constitution.

One of the counsels for the prosecution says that preferences selection of their colleague who has indicated to this court his readiness to represent the defendant should in no way be indicative of any fact of depravation of the defendant’s rights to speedy trial as in visit to the framer of the constitution.

Counsel for the prosecution also further says delaying these trials will not only endeavor to undermine the ends of justice but to further frustrate other litigants whose matters are before that court and are of equal importance as the case at bar.

Prosecution Counsels further say that it will be counterproductive were this court to continuously grant unto the defendant successive adjournment which is believed by the prosecution to be a conscious to baffle justice and undermine the intent and purpose of the constitution.

Accordingly, the court grants the continuance for August 29, 2018 and reassign the case for today Friday, August 31, 2018 in order to ensure adequate representations of the defendant particularly Mr. Jonathan Williams and ensuring that there is a speedy trial.

The court said it is not stocked between ensuring that the principle defendant has adequate representation and also ensuring that he (Williams) has speedy trial, and to even add to that is other defendants who are attached to his trial who has not been severance if they desire.

Meaning that the court granted the two days to the newly Attorney of Mr. Williams to receive the file for this case and peruse it so as to give him ground to advise his client how to plead and at the same time ensure that there is speedy trail.