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Liberia: Defense Counsels Oppose Death Penalty For Armed Robbers
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The NEWS (Monrovia)
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 13 May 2008
C. Emmanuel Johnson
Monrovia
The Defense Counsels for Montserrado County have expressed opposition to the death penalty in the amended Armed Robbery Bill which was passed by the House of Representatives recently and is before the Liberian Senate for concurrence.
The head of the defense counsels, Cllr. Elijah Cheapoo, speaking Monday at the formal opening of the May A. D. 2008 Term of Criminal Court 'A, B and C, said the amended law is rigid.
He told the court that they would take the issue with the Senate to ensure that the bill is revised.
He noted there should have been some flexibility within the law because people are sometimes bent on incriminating others to accomplish what he called 'selfish interest.'
"Under such condition, what would be their defense under the law?" Cllr. Cheapoo asked.
In response to the judge's charge, Cllr. Michael Wright who spoke on behalf of the Liberia National Bar Association, said he was one of those who pressed for the passage of the armed robbery bill because the Act was prevalent and lives were at risk.
He said it was wrong for war-ravaged people to be rebuilding their lives while others were unleashing terror against them at night.
The presiding judge of Criminal Courts A and B, Peter W. Gbenewelleh, hoped that with the successful reopening of the courts, judges, lawyers and party litigants would adhere to the rule of law and guard themselves in the discharge of their respective duties.
He said the court would dispense justice by deliberating and rendering fair judgment without discrimination.
Judge Gbenewelleh said they would ensure that everyone is equal before the law as enshrined in the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.
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He thanked the government for improving the infrastructure of the judiciary and also the provision of the basic needs for the Labour and Debt Courts.
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